Kathy Clarke Saxophone
Kathy is a British saxophonist and music educator.
Her first foray into music started with the guitar, taking after her father, but she soon found her home with the saxophone.
After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Manchester, Kathy switched from academic music to saxophone performance. She has since graduated with master's in saxophone performance from both the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2021, taught by Gerard McChrystal, and Pennsylvania State University in 2023 under Dr. David Stambler.
At Penn State, Kathy was the graduate teaching assistant for the saxophone department. There, she taught a woodwind methods class to inform and inspire music education students to the diverse nature of the saxophone. She also taught individual and group lessons, coached quartets, and conducted the saxophone ensemble.
In April 2024 Kathy was invited back to Penn State after winning the 2023 concerto competition. There, she performed the Ingolf Dahl Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Orchestra with the Penn State Symphonic Wind Ensemble—a heroic piece with melancholy and carefree wit.
Having overcome a repetitive strain injury, Kathy is a strong advocate for teaching injury prevention and promoting mental health awareness in music education. She emphasizes the importance of physical well-being to her students, encouraging them to take care of their bodies and minds while performing.
Kathy is dedicated on giving children and young musicians a musical home to grow and flourish. In pursuit of this, she is thrilled to be an Ambassador for the Benedetti Foundation.