My name is Catie, and I am pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, where I study with Peter Kolkay. I am involved in ensembles and organizations such as the VU Orchestra, VU Wind Symphony, the Vanderbilt New Music Society, and the Kleine Wind Quintet. My ultimate career goal is multifaceted: I want to play orchestral and chamber music and teach younger bassoonists. At Vanderbilt, I am pursuing a minor in psychology, which I believe will help me better understand and work with my students. Outside of Vanderbilt, I have explored my passion for ensemble playing through attending various summer music festivals. I am particularly interested in combining music technology with performance, which has led me to produce numerous projects featuring multitrack recording and electroacoustic live performance. In 2023, I received Blair’s Dave Darlington Award for Outstanding Creative Work in Music Technology. Earlier this summer, I attended the Mostly Modern Festival and served as a Faculty Mentor for Vanderbilt's MusicTech program. My role as a Faculty Mentor helped build my confidence and skills as a teacher to empower students to create their own music with technology. I am originally from Plainfield, Illinois, where I began learning bassoon in the sixth grade. When I'm not playing bassoon or working on a project, I love baking, going on walks, and watching movies. Whether it be performing, teaching, or even baking, my goal is to share meaningful experiences with the people around me.