Catherine Butler

Catherine is an accomplished flutist and Michigan native with a Master’s degree in Flute Performance from Boston University (2023) and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Flute Performance from Wayne State University. She is currently pursuing a Performance Diploma under the tutelage of Linda Toote. Catherine’s accolades include winning the prestigious Boston University Carnegie Hall Competition, which earned her a debut performance at Carnegie Hall on March 25th. She was also a finalist in the 44th James Pappoutsakis Memorial Flute Competition and the winner of the 2018-2019 Wayne State Concerto Competition.

Based in the Boston area, Catherine is building a dynamic freelance career, balancing teaching and performing. She is an active member of ensembles such as the Du Bois Orchestra, New England Philharmonic, and Longwood Symphony and regularly performs with Ohio Light Opera during the summer months. Catherine's international performance experience includes collaborations with the Wayne State Camerata in Italy and the International Symphony Orchestra in Sarnia, Canada. In addition to her orchestral work, Catherine is an avid chamber musician and soloist. She has performed with artists from the Detroit Opera House and Ohio Light Opera, as well as in solo engagements with orchestras in Detroit and Italy.

SAEYEONG KIM

Saeyeong Kim is a dynamic flutist currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Flute Performance at the New England Conservatory, studying with Cynthia Meyers. She previously earned her Master of Music from Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music under John Thorne and her Bachelor of Music from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where she studied with Thomas Robertello.

Saeyeong was appointed principal flute of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra and has performed as a substitute with the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra. She has participated in prestigious summer festivals, including the Ravinia Music Festival as a National Orchestral Institute Fellow and the Trentino Music Festival, where she won the Young Artist Solo Competition. A finalist in the Northwestern University Concerto Competition, Saeyeong has been recognized with multiple scholarships, including the NEC Dean’s Scholarship and the Indiana University Premier Young Artist Award.

CLARESSA CASTRO

Claressa Castro is a Freshman B.M. who currently studies with Ann Bobo at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She started learning flute in the sixth grade, at the age of 11. During her time in high school she played in the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio for two years in the Philharmonic Orchestra. Additionally during her Sophomore-Senior year she competed in the TMEA All-State process and attended the TMEA convention, performing in the All-State Concert and Symphonic Bands. Before studying with Ann Bobo, she previously studied with Rachel Woolf, professor of flute at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

JORDANA KLEINER

Jordana is a flutist currently pursuing her Master of Music degree at Boston University, where she studies with Linda Toote. Previously, she obtained her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto where she studied under Kelly Zimba and Camille Watts. She has been the recipient of various scholarships, including the Arthur Plettner Scholarship, Ezra Schabas Performance Award, and Ian R Dalton Music Scholarship.

In past summers, Jordana participated in the HATCH program with Continuum, Scotia Festival Young Artists Program, and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestral Institute; additionally, she spent one summer abroad in Vienna to study with Furugh Karimi. She has performed in the New England Philharmonic, her universities’ orchestras and wind ensembles, and a wide variety of chamber ensembles.