54. Interview with Dr. Cathie Hudnall, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra of Atlanta

Dr. Catherine Hudnall received her Bachelor’s
degree from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory
of music, her Master’s degree from Georgia State University, and
her Doctoral degree from Mercer University. Currently she is the
Orchestra Director at Norcross High School and is the Artistic
Director and Conductor of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony
Orchestra. She was the teacher of the year at Norcross High
School and received the American String Teachers Association’s
Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Hudnall is a regular conductor
and clinician for honor ensembles throughout the state, was the
conductor of the SC All-State Orchestra in 2002, the Mississippi
All-State Orchestra in 2005, and has been invited to conduct the
California All-State Orchestra in 2021. She served as an
adjudicator for the National ASTA Orchestra Festival in 2019. Her
students have been invited to perform for the Georgia State Music
Educators conference in 1995, 2006, and 2009. She was a guest
conductor of the Gwinnett Philharmonic Orchestra in 2004, 2006,
and 2007, and she co-directed the Gwinnett County Youth Symphony
for six years. In 2006, the Norcross High School Philharmonic
Orchestra won the National Championship High School String
Orchestra Award at the American String Teachers Association
conference in Kansas City. Three of her ensembles have been
selected to perform at Carnegie Hall. Dr. Hudnall is a member of
the National Music Educators Association, the Conductors Guild,
the Performing Arts Medical Association, and the American String
Teachers Association. She served as state president of the
Georgia ASTA chapter. ​ Dr. Hudnall studied cello with Hans
Schmettau and Martha Gerschefski. As a professional cellist, she
has performed with the Gwinnett Philharmonic Orchestra, the
Georgia Women’s Symphony, the 1st International Cello Congress
Choir, the Maui Symphony, the Florence Symphony, the Columbia
Philharmonic Orchestra, the Charleston Symphony, the Augusta
Symphony, the Spartanburg Symphony, the Gainesville Symphony, and
the Brevard Music Center Festival Orchestra. She is a member of
the Candler String Quartet, is an active consultant and teacher
of Healthy Musicianship, and teaches private cello lessons in her
home.





Dr. Hudnall can be contacted at cathiehudnall@gmail.com