Our Maestro

Dr. Kathryn D. “Cathy” Brownlee

Dr. Kathryn D. “Cathy” Brownlee is Founder, Artistic Director, and Conductor of the New Texas Symphony Orchestra, and Professor of Music and Commercial Music at Dallas College Cedar Valley Campus. Recognized by The American Prize National Non-profit Competitions in the Performing Arts as the 2023 Conducting winner (community orchestra division) and for second place in Orchestral Programming—-Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award (non-collegiate division), Brownlee has a passion for creating excitement for making music and connecting listeners to symphonic music in unexpected ways.

Brownlee’s goal is for everyone to recognize and embrace the accessibility and positive impact of symphonic music. She programs distinctive works that are seldom played, especially music by women and composers of color, and she strives to create a space that is friendly and welcoming while honoring long-standing orchestral traditions. Her love of music radiates from the moment she steps on the podium. Her leadership, fellowship, and enthusiasm play a significant role in what makes this performing arts group unique.

Dr. Brownlee started the New Texas Symphony Orchestra (NTSO) in 2004 with a dream that was two-fold: to give amateur and volunteer musicians an opportunity to play in a full orchestra setting within the City of Dallas, and to share the enjoyment and improved quality of life that comes from being a part of music played for the love of it. The NTSO is a splendid occasion for both musicians and audiences to experience the passion and diligence behind making and experiencing great music.

Dr. Brownlee completed her Doctor of Musical Arts through Boston University with a focus on community music and lifelong music making, and holds a Master of Music Education and an Artist Certificate in Conducting from The University of Texas at Arlington. She is an active clinician and adjudicator in the DFW area and was honored this past summer to serve as a judge in the National Strings Competition of the National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM). Brownlee serves as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer for the Dallas College Cedar Valley Campus Faculty Association, and holds memberships with The Conductors Guild, Texas Community College Teachers Association, Texas Music Educators Association, and Sigma Alpha Iota, professional music fraternity for women.

Previous conducting positions include Director of Orchestra for Cathedral of Hope UCC, Artistic Director for The Women’s Chorus of Dallas, and Artistic Director for the Oak Lawn Band. Conducting appearances feature events in Michigan, Florida, Washington D.C., and Toronto, Canada. Brownlee is honored to have worked with Dallas Symphony Orchestra musicians Gary Levinson, Angela Fuller Heyde, Jolyon Pegis, and Maria Schleuning, international pianist, Dr. Baya Kakouberi, national artists Kristin Chenoweth, Sam Harris, and Marvin Matthews, and many local favorites, including Denise Lee, Liz Mikel, and jazz pianist and Sammons Jazz Artistic Director, Arlington Jones.

Dr. Brownlee lives with her wife and two miniature schnauzers on their five-acre homestead in southern Dallas County. In her leisure time, she enjoys time shared with friends and family, DIY projects, and tending the land. Through all these loves and activities, she shares a special bond with Dottie, her John Deere tractor.