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Who is your favorite composer?

I enjoy so many composers, but I guess I have to say that my favorite is my husband, composer Paul Hayden!!  He has written several wonderful works for me, including A Tre for solo flute, Grand Mamou for flute and piano, Janus for flute and saxophone and has just completed Divertimento for flute and viola which I look forward to learning and performing!

What kind of flute do you play?

I play on a 14K handmade Powell with silver keys.  I have played on Powells exclusively since 1970!!

Why did you choose to become a professional musician?

I chose to start studying  music at 9 because I wanted to get out of class for 30 minutes each week for my flute lessons and because I wanted to win medals!!  However, after studying for 15 years I grew to love it so much that I couldn't imagine doing anything else.

What do you strive to achieve in your teaching and performances?

As a teacher I am very nurturing and I am constantly trying to learn new things so that I can share them with my students.  For example, during my sabbaticals from LSU, I always try to learn something new, whether it is extended techniques or bodymapping.  I also attend seminars and workshops for these things and believe me, it is not easy getting up in front of a class as a student at my age, and having another teacher criticize me in front of others!  However, I think doing this helps me to grow as a musician and a teacher!  For my audiences, I just want to share my love and enthusiasm for what I am doing.  I want them to have fun!

Most important practice philosophy?

Never give up!  If at first you don't succeed, keep trying!  Try another tempo, rhythm, or fingering until you find something that works!

Katherine Kemler is an active international performer and has been the flute professor at Louisiana State University for 23 years.  She also performs with the Timm Wind Quintet, and teaches at the Oxford Flute Summer School in England.

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Born:  Washington, DC

Started playing flute:  Age 9

Teachers/Colleges:  Robert Willoughby at Oberlin and then Samuel Baron at the State University of New York at Stony Brook for my MM and DMA. My first serious flute teacher was Mark Thomas, founder of the NFA, when he was teaching at American University and playing principal in the National Gallery Orchestra.  I also studied in a number of extended Masterclasses with William Bennett, Andras Adorjan, Julius Baker, Michel Debost, Marcel Moyse and Jean-Pierre Rampal.