Catherine Ramirez

Catherine Ramirez is an Artist in Residence in Music at St. Olaf College, where she has taught flute and chamber music since 2010. Recognized for her 'sensitive and artistic' performances and described as 'a communicator through music,' she has captivated audiences worldwide from her desert roots along the U.S. Southern border to international venues including Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and Beijing Concert Hall.

Dr. Ramirez's educational background includes:

• Bachelor of Arts from Occidental College
• Honors Diploma from Boccherini Music Institute in Italy
• Master of Arts from Queens College
• Master of Music from Yale University School of Music
• Doctor of Musical Arts from Rice University

As a dedicated educator, Ramirez serves as chair of the Pedagogy Committee for the National Flute Association (NFA) and previously served as president of the Upper Midwest Flute Association. Her artistic work focuses on flute performance, chamber music, and music education with particular emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and Latin/South American chamber music. Her research on optimal musical communication has been featured on the cover of The Flutist Quarterly and in The Flute View online magazine. Ramirez has released three albums: 'Transformation' (independent), 'Shelter From The Storm' (Albany Records), and 'Claiming Space' (2024), the latter supported by a Sphinx MPower Artist Grant and featuring solo flute music of BIPOC composers from the Americas.

Dr. Ramirez has received numerous prestigious awards including three international competition prizes in Italy, First Prize from the New York Flute Club Young Artist Competition, the Sallie Shepherd Perkins Prize from Rice University, a McKnight Fellowship for Musicians, and the Sphinx MPower Artist Grant. She was also a 2025 Finalist for The American Prize.

As an educator, Ramirez has taught students from youth to graduate levels in masterclasses across the United States, Italy, Colombia, and China. She has mentored young adults through the NFA Young Artist Mentorship Program and the Posse Program, and has served as an adjudicator for the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Her community engagement includes teaching middle school band in El Paso, organizing concert series for 'at-risk' youth, and performing for diverse communities including mental health clinics and cancer patients.

Dr. Ramirez is an active performer, currently serving as a member of both the Minnesota Sinfonia and the Chione Quintet. Her performances span prestigious venues worldwide as well as community settings from public schools to mental health clinics, demonstrating her commitment to making music accessible to all audiences.