Kathryn D. “Cathy” Brown is the Founder and Artistic Director of The New Texas Symphony Orchestra. She is a music faculty member at Cedar Valley College where she manages the Music Lab and teaches several classes. In addition, Brown is currently working towards a doctorate in music education from Boston University. Her dissertation focuses on community music and what keeps players engaged in organized musical activities into adulthood. Ms. Brown has a rich background in multiple conducting scenarios and has been a longtime contributor to the Dallas area musical communities.

Brown earned a Master of Music in Music Education and a Performance Certificate in Orchestral Conducting from The University of Texas at Arlington, where she studied conducting with Dr. Sergio Espinosa. She received her Bachelor in Music Education from Angelo State University, where she studied conducting and voice with Paula Homer, currently the Director of Opera at The University of North Texas. Brown has honed her conducting through additional study of noted maestros and coaching sessions with many distinguished conductors, including Kate Tamarkin, Donald Portnoy, Henry Charles Smith, and William LaRue Jones.

Previous professional conducting experiences in the Dallas area include Director of Orchestra at Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ, Artistic Director for The Women's Chorus of Dallas, Assistant Conductor of The University of Texas at Arlington Symphony Orchestra, Graduate Teaching Assistant for the UTA String Division, and Artistic Director and Conductor of the Oak Lawn Band. Her conducting appearances feature national events in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Washington D.C., including the the 1992 Presidential Inaugural and the 1993 March on Washington. Brown has also appeared internationally, in both Toronto and Montreal, Canada, and is privileged to have worked with celebrated artists such as Kristin Chenoweth, Marvin Matthews, and Sam Harris, along with local favorites, Denise Lee, Gary Floyd, and Liz Mikel.

Brown is active as a clinician and adjudicator in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and holds memberships with The Conductors Guild and Texas Music Educators Association. She is also a member of The College Music Society, a lifetime member of Sigma Alpha Iota, professional music fraternity for women, and the national music honor society, Pi Kappa Lambda.