Born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, Katherine began playing the recorder as a young child, before initially taking up the piano, and then the flute.  At the age of 11 she was awarded the Cyril Collins Bursary Award for her piano playing, and by the age of 17 was a grade 8 pianist and flautist.  She continued her studies at the University College of North Wales, Bangor, attaining a B. A. Hon's.  She then studied for a PGCE in secondary education at the University  of East Anglia.

 

Since 1994 Katherine has had a very successful career in teaching, rising to Head of Music  and ultimately Head of Expressive Arts at a secondary school in Staffordshire. In December 2007 she resigned this post to concentrate on her music.

 

Katherine has travelled around the country, giving recitals and performing at various National Trust properties as a pianist and flautist. Credits include Sudbury Hall (Derbyshire), Coughton Court (Warwickshire) and Dunster Castle (Somerset).  She has also been part of the local orchestral scene in Warwickshire, performing at venues such as the Swan Theatre (Stratford Upon Avon), and as part of pit orchestras at The Loft Theatre in Leamington Spa for ‘Into The Woods’ and at the Belgrade Theatre Coventry for Disney’s ‘Beauty and The Beast’.  She also regularly plays her own arrangements of classical favourites. She has been a rehearsal pianist for ‘Sing Live Central’ and was the resident accompanist for the Atherstone Chorale

for 10 years.  She has herself sung at a number of venues within the Warwickshire area.

 

Katherine has  musically directed a number of shows, including ‘Bugsy Malone’, and ‘The Wizard of Oz’ at the Priory Theatre, Kenilworth.  In December 2007 she was musical director for a production of  the Queen musical ‘We Will Rock You’.  She is now MD for The Atherstone Chorale, taking up the post in January 2010.  She is also Musical Director of the Guildhall Operatic Society in Coventry.

 

Katherine has become a published composer having written, and sold over 65 songs worldwide.

 

Katherine prides herself on her versatility as a musician, performing classical, light jazz, easy listening and pop numbers.  

 

‘I try not to pigeon hole what I do.  I love all music and so play in a wide range of styles.

 

As a composer I love to experiment, and as an arranger it is great to create a piece for flute that would not ordinarily have been possible, because it is not written for the instrument.

 

I am very lucky to be able to do what I do!’

Katherine Brookes

Email: katherine@katherinebrookes.com

Katherine Brookes©2008-2010

To listen to examples

of Katherine’s work please go to the ‘Composing & Arranging’ page.

Katherine Brookes

Pianist, Flautist, Singer

Composer/Arranger