About

Catherine Marshall is a San Diego-based liturgical musician known for her versatility as a choral conductor, soprano, flutist, pianist, and organist. She serves full-time as the Director of Liturgical Music at St. Thérèse of Carmel Catholic Church, where she directs the Parish Choir, Youth and Young Adult Choir, and Children’s Choir. Her choirs at St. Thérèse excel in a diverse repertoire ranging from chant and polyphony to contemporary worship music, performing a masterwork concert each spring. The ensembles under her direction are frequently invited to lead important events for the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego. Catherine has conducted several major Diocesan liturgies throughout San Diego, featuring music in English, Latin, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese, including the historic Episcopal Ordination of two Diocesan Bishops last Fall. Catherine’s work in the Diocese has been featured throughout San Diego, highlighted last Spring by the Southern Cross.  She has served as music director or cantor for national conferences, including the National Catholic Healthcare Association and the Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference.

With an instrumental background, Catherine holds a Master of Music degree in Flute Performance from San Diego State University and a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Passionate about fostering a culture of excellent choirs in the Catholic Diocese of San Diego, Catherine is in her second year of pursuing an Artist Diploma in Choral Conducting at San Diego State University, where she currently serves as the assistant conductor for San Diego State University’s Chamber Singers. Catherine is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, the California Choral Directors Association, and the American Guild of Organists. She is dedicated to encouraging congregational singing and devotion through musical worship, embracing both the rich history of sacred music in the Church and the vibrant worship music of today.

Catherine has performed as Principle Flute with the UCSB Wind Ensemble, UCSB Chamber Orchestra, and SDSU Symphony Orchestra. While living in Santa Barbara, Catherine won first place in the Santa Barbara Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation competition with her performance of Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso. Catherine was first-place winner in the 2016 Music Teachers National Association State Young Artist competition, performing works by, Ibert, Saint-Saëns, C.P.E. Bach, and Ian Clarke. In recent years, she has enjoyed incorporating her appreciation for French flute repertoire into her work as a choral conductor, bringing both artistry and technicality to her conducting of the fine Requiems by Gabriel Fauré and Maurice Duruflé.

Catherine is grateful to the deeply inspiring artists who have shaped her as a musician, performer, and pedagogue. She studied flute with Elena Yarritu, Jill Felber, and Pamela Martchev, voice with Katherine Polit, and conducting with Arian Khaefi. 

Photos by Haley Sieben.