Katherine McBain earned a DMA in Horn Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music in 2008. She also earned a Master of Music degree from Eastman, Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Houston, and Master of Education from the University of Texas at Tyler. An active performer and recitalist, McBain has performed with various orchestras across the US, including the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Chamber Orchestra, Kalamazoo Symphony, Illinois Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, and the Round Top International Institute Festival Orchestra. She performs regularly with several area orchestras including Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, New Texas Sinfonia, East Texas Symphony Orchestra, Richardson Symphony Orchestra, and the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra.

 

With an interest in new repertoire for horn, McBain has commissioned several pieces, one of which, Mountain Sketches by Paul Johnston, won the International Horn Society Composition Contest in 2014.  New works for her chamber group, McBain Brass, have been commissioned to be performed and recorded in the Fall of 2026.

 

Katherine has taught at the University level since 2005, having held posts at Eastern Illinois University, Lamar University, Stephen F. Austin State University, University of Texas at Tyler, University of Rochester, and Nazareth College. As Senior Lecturer of Horn at the University of North Texas, she currently teaches Horn and Brass Pedagogy courses and is the Brass Chamber Music Coordinator.