About
Kathy Reed serves as Instructor in Music and Director of the Paideia Program at Luther College, teaching harpsichord and ear training in the Department of Music while overseeing the college's foundational first-year curriculum. Her role includes directing the mandatory 'Enduring Questions' sequence that engages students with interdisciplinary works across global cultures and historical periods.
Her educational background features:
- A.B.D. in Musicology from the University of Michigan
- Bachelor of Music from Lawrence University
Reed's scholarly focus centers on historical performance practice of early music, particularly harpsichord repertoire and J.S. Bach's works, with significant expertise in British musical traditions spanning concert hall to folk contexts. Her distinctive approach connects academic musicology with immersive experiential learning through study abroad programs that examine how cultural settings—from London's concert halls to Scottish pubs—shape musical interpretation and audience experience. This manifests in courses like 'Listening Live from London and Glasgow' which analyzes diverse musical ecosystems across the British Isles.
As an educator, Reed teaches undergraduate harpsichord and ear training courses while directing the Paideia Program's signature curriculum. She maintains an active performance career as harpsichord soloist and continuo player, including appearances at Carnegie Hall, and co-directs 'Burning Bright,' an annual community benefit concert. Her leadership extends to directing the Luther Nottingham Program during two academic years (2009-10, 2017-18), facilitating immersive UK-based musical education.
