Catherine Cooper, Kendrick School, Reading

Catherine Cooper

Kendrick School, Reading

Catherine is the Subject Leader for Music and Drama at Kendrick School and has been teaching there for nearly 10 years. She conducts and directs their Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Mass Choir and Jazz Band, as well as supporting Visiting Music Teachers to lead a variety of chamber ensembles such as Harp Ensemble and Brass and Saxophone Ensemble and students to lead a Carnatic Vocal Ensemble and a Percussion Ensemble. Additionally, Catherine is keen to give students of all ages and abilities the opportunities to perform and experience musical performances and thus puts on chamber concerts, large-scale concerts, specialist events with industry professionals, cross-curricular arts events and productions, as well as outreach projects in local primary schools. She also works as Musical Director, Director, Lighting and Sound Designer for productions, and works collaboratively with her teams to put together high-quality performances.

Catherine is a trained flautist, saxophonist, clarinettist and singer, having worked as a recording artist in a folk-rock band which has toured and played at festivals across the UK. She has also worked as a woodwind doubler/trebler in semi-professional musicals across London and the South East and has played as a flautist in a London orchestra, toured across California, and in prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Rose Theatre in Kingston and Buckingham Palace.

Outside of her Music Teacher role, Catherine has worked as a pastoral leader in KS4, an Assistant SENDCo and a Staff Trustee. She completed the NPQLT in 2022 and has since embarked on the NPQSL.

Catherine can assist primary and secondary school teachers in leading a music department; curriculum design KS3-5, including cross-curricular projects and resource development; teaching and learning; assessment; behaviour management; leading ensembles and choirs; producing concerts, events and productions, as well as outreach work.