Kathy Burmeister
Katherine Burmeister obtained her Bachelor of Music degree in Harp Performance and Individual Teaching from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, where she studied under Ventura Rosenthal (Principal Harp, National Symphony Orchestra). She was the recipient of the Kathleen Alistair Harp Scholarship Award every year, as well as the Abraham & Olga Lipman Scholarship.
Katherine has performed as a solo and ensemble musician in South Africa, Australia and the USA. Orchestral affiliations include the National Symphony and the Natal Philharmonic Orchestras in South Africa. Local groups include Symphony Pro Musica and the Assabet Valley Mastersingers.
Katherine is an active freelance performer in the New England area, where she enjoys collaborating with other musicians. Engagements include weddings, church worship services, musical theatre productions and more. Katherine is a member of the American Harp Society and joined Deborah Henson-Conant’s online ‘Hip Harp Academy’ during the Pandemic. She also has connections with the New England Piano Teacher’s Association and enjoys learning from their special speaker series.
During her more than 25 years of music instruction experience, Katherine has taught students of all ages and levels, including toddler and preschool early childhood music classes. Her private students have done very well in the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music’s practical and theory exams and her harp students have participated in school and youth orchestras, as well as Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute.
As a parent, Katherine draws from her own experience of observing and supporting her (now grown) children’s unique musical journeys and education, having learned a lot along the way. Her teaching philosophy is that learning to play an instrument requires hard work and discipline and students should have fun, as they master technical and other skills necessary to become well-rounded musicians. Ultimately, her goal is to instill in her students a lifelong love, appreciation and respect for all genres of music.
Katherine joined the Joy of Music faculty in 2023.