Katie Parrish Brown is a cellist, teacher, scientist, and lifelong learner with a wonderfully creative approach to music and education. She brings together serious musical training, curiosity, imagination, and a genuine love of helping people discover what they can do.
Katie earned a B.A. with honors in Music and Chemistry from Grinnell College, where she studied cello extensively, served as principal cellist of the Grinnell Symphony Orchestra, and performed as a featured soloist in the Elgar Cello Concerto. She also gave a full senior recital featuring works by Cassadó and Rachmaninoff, along with a solo cello work commissioned for and dedicated to her.
Katie has taught cello privately to students ranging in age from 5 to 85 and has worked with young people in many different educational settings. She currently teaches music in Amherst elementary schools and has also taught and mentored students in science, music, Hebrew studies, and athletics. That broad teaching experience has helped her become flexible, inventive, and attentive to the different ways people learn.
In addition to her music background, Katie holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her work as a scientist, educator, and public outreach teacher reflects the same qualities she brings to music lessons: curiosity, patience, experimentation, and a willingness to look at things from more than one angle.
At the Red Barn, Katie brings an original and thoughtful spirit to cello teaching. She helps students build strong fundamentals while also encouraging creativity, confidence, and a personal connection to the music. Whether a student is just beginning or ready to explore more advanced repertoire, Katie enjoys helping them find their own way into the instrument and make music that feels meaningful.