Kathryn is a native of southeastern Kentucky, where at the age of four, she began playing hymns, folk songs, and her own compositions on her family’s old upright piano.  While growing up, she performed in churches, school and community events, county fairs, and on local radio and television shows, singing and playing piano, organ, ukulele, guitar, or accordion.  After obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance (with emphasis on keyboard and voice) she continued her musical training in Germany, studying piano with concert pianist Aldo Schoen and voice with professors Josef Maria Hauschild and Rolf Sartorius.  In Europe, she performed professionally as a classical singer, folk singer, pianist and organist.  Kathryn’s compositions are strongly influenced by the folk songs and hymns she heard, played, and sang during her childhood, as well as by composers such as Debussy, Brahms, Richard Strauss, Arvo Pärt and Eric Whitacre. 

Since 2010 Kathryn has released 8 piano albums, all of which were recorded by engineer Tom Eaton and produced or co-produced by William Ackerman at Imaginary Road Studios in Vermont.  Her CDs have won numerous awards, including ZMR 2013 Best Holiday Album (WHAT THE WINTER SAID), 2015 Best Piano Album with Instrumentation (PATTERNS OF SUN AND SHADE), 2016 Best Piano Album with Instrumentation (THERE WAS A TIME), and 2019 Best Piano Album with Instrumentation (SOLACE OF MOUNTAINS AND CLOUDS).   In 2017, her album REFLECTED IN A FLOWING STREAM was awarded Best Piano Album with Instrumentation by One World Music Radio, and in 2019, SOLACE OF MOUNTAINS AND CLOUDS was awarded Second Place in that category. 

Although music is her first love, Kathryn holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology, specializing in Geropsychology and Geriatric Neuropsychology.  Through her work as a psychologist, she developed an ever-deepening respect for the wisdom and resilience of older adults, many of whom endured multiple losses and hardships.   

Kathryn enjoys taking long hikes in the mountains, photographing nature and animals, drawing, painting, reading, and spending time with her two dogs.  She writes:  “It is my belief that music (and art in all its forms) speaks many languages and reminds us of the underlying unity of human beings everywhere.  Through a combination of creativity and and exploring the mysteries of nature, we enhance our understanding, appreciation, and respect for life and its ever-changing beauty, transience, and fragility.”