Hometown:
New Braunfels, Texas
Education:
University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, Master of Music, 2022
West Virginia University, Bachelor of Music, 2020
Bio:
Horn player Catherine Dowd is an active performer and educator in the Central Texas area. She is currently acting as Second Horn of the San Antonio Philharmonic. Catherine studied with Denise Tryon and Elizabeth Freimuth at the University of Cincinnati of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and studied with Jonas Thoms at West Virginia University. Previous teachers also include Dr. Margaret Tung, Mark Houghton, and Dr. Carrie D. Strickland.
What inspired you to become a musician?
I have loved music as long as I can remember, but what inspired me to pursue music as a career was my private instructor, Dr. Carrie Strickland. I loved hearing her stories of where music had taken her and the friends she made along the way and I wanted to experience that too, and have!
Who are your all-time favorite composers and/or pieces? Why?
Brahms is my favorite because he wrote so beautifully for the horn!
What is an interesting fact about you and/or your instrument?
One of my favorite musical experiences was playing Alphorn in the mountains of West Virginia!
When taking a break from music-making, what is your favorite thing to do?
Reading, traveling, being with loved ones, hiking, and being outdoors.
Why did you choose the NRO?
I chose the NRO because I wanted to have the opportunity to play lots of diverse repertoire and be in the beautiful mountains of Colorado for the summer! I have heard how fun and valuable the experience at NRO is from alumni and wanted to experience it myself.