Biography

Catherine Rollin

Catherine Rollin is a pianist, composer, clinician, author and teacher of prize-winning students. Her more than 400 published pedagogical compositions are recognized worldwide for their combination of musicality and "teachability." As a clinician, Catherine has given over 300 workshops and masterclasses throughout the U.S., Canada, Japan and Taiwan. Her efforts as a composer, clinician and author are an outgrowth of her work as a teacher. Finding the answers to help her students develop artistic, relaxed and confident technical skills led Catherine to insights featured in her ground breaking series, "Pathways to Artistry." Catherine's ASCAP award winning books, "Museum Masterpieces" feature her original piano works inspired by great art masterpieces from museums around the world. Catherine wrote this series after seeing how her students' creativity was sparked by artwork imagery. She is also the co-author of the 2011 edition of the highly regarded college text, "Creative Piano Teaching." All of the many facets of Catherine's work emanate from her central passion for teaching. Catherine has received numerous commissions from state and local associations as well as Clavier Magazine and from the Music Teacher National Association. (MTNA) . In 2018 her MTNA commissioned trio for flute, alto saxophone and piano, "Suite Detroit" was featured at the MTNA Conference in Orlando, FL.. Catherine has been honored to have her works featured on the National Federation of Music (NFMC)Clubs Festival Bulletin in the solo, duet, concerto, one hand and Patriotic categories. Additionally, Catherine has been honored to have her works featured on lists of the Trinity Exams in England, the ABRSM Exams in Australia and the Royal Conservatory in Canada. Her two concertos, "Concerto Romantique" and "Concerto in C" are available in 2 piano form and also have orchestrations available. They have been performed with orchestra in the U.S., Canada, Russia, Thailand, Brazil, Czecholovakia and S. Africa. Catherine's students have won many honors. Among these are national finalists in solo piano, duet and composition competitions of the MTNA, as well as solo piano and composition competitions sponsored by the NFMC, and solo piano competitions of National YoungArts, Kaufman, Carmel Klavier, IIYM, SEPF, Chopin-Hartford and the 2020 Steinway International. Her students have also been recognized in many local and state competitions in Michigan. Her students have performed with several orchestras, among them: Detroit, Toledo, Rochester (MI) and Warren Symphonies. Many of Catherine's students have pursued professional degrees in piano from prestigious music schools and conservatories in the U.S., Russia and England. Catherine received her principle training with Detroit Symphony pianist, Mischa Kottler, a disciple of von Sauer and Cortot. While still in high school, her early interest in Baroque performance practice led her to study harpsichord for two summers with the world renowned harpsichordist, Dorothy Lane at Northwestern University. Rollin holds the BMA degree with distinction from U. of Michigan and the MM from Oakland University where she was the recipient of the distinguished alumni award. A few fun facts: Catherine is a chocoholic. She thinks most pianists have this in common. She is left handed and has perfect pitch. (She thinks that there are a disproportionate group of lefties with perfect pitch in the world and hopes someone might research this someday for their doctoral thesis! ) She wrote her "Summer" pieces in honor of her daughter "Summer." Catherine is married and her husband is a piano teacher and tuner. Catherine loves meeting piano teachers, piano students and piano music afficianados and feels very blessed that her work has brought her in touch with incredibly interesting and passionate music lovers from all over the world. Thank you for visiting the website!