Teacher, conductor, clinician, and cellist Katie Liaw graduated from The University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. She later attended The Hartt School at the University of Hartford to earn a Master of Music Education in String Pedagogy. Katie specializes in middle and high school orchestra teaching and has taught in several nearby orchestra programs. Katie earned certification in First Steps of Music and Conversational Solfege I and II through the Feierabend Association for Music Education. Katie maintains a small cello studio, preferring to teach a few dedicated students in her spare time.

Katie became a rehearsal assistant in 2006 as an undergraduate at UTK. Over the last 20 years, she has served the organization in other capacities as assistant conductor, stage manager, and building host for rehearsals and string camp. She is thrilled to begin her 6th season as conductor of the Youth Chamber Orchestra. With two children in elementary school, Katie has recently embarked on a new journey as a part-time preschool teacher. It’s been a fun and challenging change of pace, and she enjoys every minute of it! In her spare time, Katie loves reading, drinking a good cup of coffee, trying new recipes, hovering over her growing plant collection, and going on adventures with her family.