Teacher Profile: Cristina Catterton

About Cristina Catterton

Northern Virginia native Cristina Catterton began her musical training on piano at age 6, and clarinet at age 9. After graduating in 2017 from George C. Marshall High School, she attended George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, where she studied under Kathy Mulcahy and earned a bachelor’s degree in clarinet performance in 2021.

As a performer, Cristina is most at home in large ensemble settings playing the clarinet; she grew up participating in the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors’ Association’s District XII and All-Virginia Honor Bands, as well as Northern Virginia-based Flutopia wind ensemble and the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras program. She participated in the Sewanee Summer Music Festival and International Clarinet Association Competitions in high school, and sat in co-principal and E-flat clarinet positions in the Mason Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra; she currently performs in the clarinet section of the Capital Wind Symphony. She has performed in masterclasses with clarinetists such as Richie Hawley, David Krakauer, and Eugene Mondie.

Cristina also regularly performs in chamber ensemble and solo settings on clarinet, piano, and voice at Northern Virginia Classical Music Open Mic Nights and is a member of the scholas at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Woodley Park, DC and St. Rita Catholic Church in Alexandria, VA.

As an educator of both children and adults, Cristina draws heavily from the teaching philosophies of her former music teachers including Claudia Smith, Catina F. Sweedy, Kristin Spiridon, and Chad Burrow. She also applies student-first and family-based principles from her experience in youth ministry and early childhood education.

When she is not performing or teaching, Cristina enjoys running and going to the gym, reading, cooking, baking, crafting, photography, and spending time with her friends and family.