Catherine Stephenson

Biography

I am a freelance musician based in Cape Town and have both local and international experience. I love performing, be it as part of an orchestra, chamber group or as a soloist. I am a diverse classical flautist with experience on the piccolo and baroque flute as well.

After obtaining my BMus (Hons) at the South African College of Music, under the tutelage of Bridget Rennie-Salonen and Liesl Stoltz, I was awarded a bursary to study a Masters degree at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. After graduating with an MMus in 2012, I remained in the UK, performing with various chamber groups, and the Cardiff Camerata Orchestra. In the 2013 Mid-Somerset Festival in Bath, I was awarded first place in the “Concerto for Woodwind, Brass and Recorder” category and won the Robin Ledbury Cup for Music in the same competition. The following year I was selected to compete in the Jeunesses International Flute Competition in Bucharest, Romania.

Now back in Cape Town, my orchestral experience includes working with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra and Cape Festival Orchestra. Apart from onstage orchestral work I have enjoyed playing for musical theatre, opera and ballets as well. As a soloist, I have performed with the ACMP and Musicanti orchestras.

I have been fortunate enough to have had private lessons and masterclasses with renowned flautists such as Paul Edmund-Davies, Wissam Boustany, Ian Clarke, William Bennett and James Galway.

I enjoy new and innovative projects and provided an improvised sound track for the multiple award winning audio play “Brad Lansky and the Rogue Era” in 2015. Most recently, I have collaborated with dancers from Cape Town City Ballet to create “Journeys”, in which we explored integrating both music and dance into our natural surroundings.

Teaching

I am passionate about music education and believe a large part of the learning process is in the good working relationship I build with my students. My teaching is strongly rooted in classical music and I encourage students to play with other musicians as much as possible. I have had the pleasure of working with individuals as well as chamber groups and larger ensembles.

I have fourteen years of teaching experience and have taught both in South Africa and the UK. Whether guiding students through school, Trinity and ABRSM exams, or developing musical skills as a hobby, I enjoy teaching students of all ages and abilities. I am able to accompany students on the piano during lessons.

Lessons are tailored towards the students needs and I am able to offer online lessons.

Concert Diary

Upcoming

Journeys - 20/20 Entertainment in Containment

Friday 2nd October 2020

18:00 GMT+0

Online via Quicket

A 20-minute interdisciplinary collaboration between musicians and dancers. Catherine Stephenson (flute), Albert Combrink (piano) and Graham Du Plessis (cello) provide a sound track for dancers from Cape Town City Ballet, with choreography by Kristin Wilson.

Be transported along babbling brooks with an arrangement of Smetana's Moldau, fly across eddies of snow with The Snowman, be seduced by the wiles of a fiery women with music from Bizet's opera Carmen, and experience the passion of Argentinian Tango with Piazzolla's Oblivion and Libertango.

Tickets can be purchased at qkt.io/JOURNEYS2020 for R80 and valid for 6 days after the event.

Previous

Starlight Classics with Cape Philharmonic Orchestra

Friday 28th February 2020

17:30 GMT+0

Vergelegen Wine Estate, Cape Town

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