Catherine A. Walker

Associate Chair of Musical Theatre; Clinical Professor of Music

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Bio

Catherine A. Walker is a Professor of Music and the Vice-Chair of the Department of Musical Theatre at the University of Michigan. With a distinguished career spanning over 35 years, Professor Walker has excelled globally as a music director, conductor, vocal coach, pianist, educator, and clinician. Notably, she has served as the Music Supervisor for the 2024 and 2026 Japanese Tours of THE FULL MONTY and RENT in Tokyo and Osaka. Other international work includes Island Center Productions (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands), and guest professor/lecturer appointments at Mahidol University (Bangkok, Thailand) and The American School (London, (England).

Beyond her academic leadership, Professor Walker’s extensive professional credits include collaborations with prominent regional theatres, national tours, and international institutions such as 5th Avenue Theatre (Seattle, WA), Three-D Productions National Touring Company, Derby Dinner Playhouse (Louisville, KY), Country Dinner Playhouse (Columbus, OH), Red Barn Playhouse (Saugatuck, MI), Farmers Alley Theatre (Kalamazoo, MI), and The Augusta Barn Theatre’s production of SHENANDOAH starring Robert Newman. Ms. Walker was also the featured pianist for WICKED DIVAS with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and FAMILY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES with the Saginaw Symphony Orchestra. She also regularly serves as music director and pianist for premier cabaret performances, including AN EVENING WITH LAUREN KENNEDY and AN EVENING WITH SCOTT COULTER. As an accomplished classical choral conductor, her choirs have performed at Carnegie Hall, Washington D.C., and throughout Germany, Austria, Italy, and the Czech Republic.

Recognized for her dedication to educational excellence, Professor Walker was awarded the U-M School of Music, Theatre, & Dance Teaching Excellence Award for the 2024–2025 academic year. She has also been the recipient of multiple Gilbert Whitaker Grants for the Improvement of Teaching, which funded research into contemporary vocal pedagogy, curriculum development, and music technology integration. Driven by a passion for music literacy, she designed and implemented a new Musical Fluency Course alongside a specialized Music Theory curriculum tailored specifically for Musical Theatre majors. Her multidisciplinary approach to voice science and somatic education includes certification as an Estill Master Trainer and advanced integration of somatic methodologies, including the Alexander Technique, the Feldenkrais Method for Somatic Education, Fitzmaurice Voicework, and the McCloskey Technique.

Professor Walker serves annually as a mentor and judge for the national Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Vocal Academy. Her excellence in choral conducting has been formally recognized by both the Michigan School Vocal Music Association (MSVMA) and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). She has been a featured headliner for the MSVMA Summer Workshop and a presenter at the Midwest Conference, Michigan Music Conference, and ACDA State Conference. Her leadership credits also include serving as Director/Music Director for the All-State ensembles.