Guest Blogger: Kate Caton

Receiving her Bachelors in Music Education from Fredonia State University and her Masters in Arts Education from Stony Brook University, Kate is recognized as a performer, recording artist, conductor, director, administrator as well as an innovative visionary in arts education. Kate holds certifications from a medley of states in both Music and Theatre Education. A native New Yorker, Kate has designed, composed and presented performances and performing arts curriculum in a variety of venues and for a variety of causes throughout her thirty year career.

After receiving the Performing Arts Award from the same high school both Craig Schulman and Rosie O’Donnell received the same recognition, she decided to make her path performing arts education. Since then, Kate has designed, implemented and presented an inclusive performing arts curriculum for all learners and in a variety of school and regional theatre organizations.

She has seen the many artistic accomplishments of her educational expertise through the paths of previous students that have extended their vocal careers in a performing arts/ educational direction. She does dedicate her new book, “Da Capo from the Beginning” (Authorhouse 2014) to those students that made a difference in her life.

Kate continues to serve as Theatre instructor for Drury High School and founder and Director of Drury Stage Company, music educator for the Children’s Center at Williams and Virtual Pre Curriculum Advisor for Explorations Summer Academy. Kate’s artistic talents explore not only her own musical arrangements for choir, but extend to creating and designing a musical theatre community service performance project entitled, “The Rite of Passage”. This endeavor falls under one component of “The W’holistic Performing Arts Project”, a collaborative concept designed by Kate and Ted Kastrinos, which is inclusive of performing arts, education and community engagement. Music, media, prose, dialogue, and movement, this project is designed to include and embrace community in the arts.