Alumni Spotlight: Katie Richardson

We catch up with Katie Richardson (BM '13) who tells us about her time spent at UTA, her most embarrassing moment as a musician (it involves breaking into lockers), and what she would be if she weren't a musician.

Can you tell us a little about what you’ve been up to lately educationally and/or musically?
Over the last few years I’ve been especially interested in studying and researching various aspects of musician’s wellness/injury prevention and applying this to string pedagogy. Over the last year, I was able to present my research at the Texas Music Educators Association Conference, American String Teachers Association Conference, and the Performing Arts Medicine Association International Symposium. I greatly enjoy training young musicians mostly in the private setting and serving as Assistant Director for the Texas Christian University String Workshop over the past two summers.

What, for you, is the most fulfilling aspect of your life as a musician?
The experience of sharing beautiful expression in sound with others is my favorite part of being a musician. I also love learning about how music and music-making affects humans on a variety of levels as well aspects of how we process and produce music.

What comes easiest to you as a musician?
That is a tough one. I would not say anything about being a musician really comes easy to me! I suppose music theory has been something that has come easier, though.

So far, what's been your most embarrassing moment as a musician?
During my undergraduate studies at UTA, I basically lived in the music building. I would normally come to campus early and stay all day. So, when we had a concert, I would store my concert clothing in my locker so that I could change later in the evening for the concert. One particular time, I took out my concert clothes to change before an orchestra concert and put my violin in my locker plus one of my bags, which very sadly contained my locker key. You can imagine my terror when I realized I not only didn’t have access to my instrument, but I also didn’t have my orchestra music with my markings…plus the concert was going to begin shortly. My colleagues came to my rescue and eventually were successful at breaking into my locker for me in time for the concert. Needless to say, I was very careful about the location of my locker key after that experience.

Could you tell us a bit about your experience studying at UTA?
My experience at UTA was phenomenal. I absolutely loved it. The music department contains incredibly dedicated and skilled musicians and educators who care enough about their students to push them to grow while maintaining an environment of respect and mentorship. That is a tough combination to achieve, I think.

Is there a performance or moment as a music major at UTA that stands out in your memory?  What made this performance or moment particularly special for you?
I don’t have a particular moment to describe, but I have memories of performing with my colleagues in either quartet or orchestra where we had achieved a high level of musical communication in performance. Performing with my colleagues were the most special moments I loved; there is just nothing like expressing musical ideas together to an audience.

Are there any recent trends that you see in the field of music that could help UTA students plan for the future?
Interdisciplinary studies seem to be a trend, particularly in graduate studies. I would encourage undergraduate students to pursue the development of their musical skills on their instrument/voice of course, but to also consider other related areas that are of interest to them particularly if they can tie the other area into musical study.

Other than classical music, ______ is on my playlist.
Adele

Best concert (classical or non-classical) you’ve ever attended and why?
I don’t have a favorite; I’ve been to so many wonderfully touching performances, I can’t pick one.

If you weren’t a musician, what would you want to be?
I always wanted to be a dancer (ballerina) when I was very young before I started violin.