Catherine (Katie) was born and raised in Northern Maine, and during that time discovered that music made her very happy.  She started out as a clarinet player, playing principal in her high school band, and in the community band which was her summer job for the next five years.  Katie attended the University of Maine where she received a Bachelor of Music Education with honors, and then attended the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where she received a Master of Music in Oboe Performance.  Since then she has studied with several major teachers including Laurence Thorstenberg and Thomas Stacy.  

Katie taught for 35 years in the Worcester Public Schools as an instrumental instructor and has been teaching at Thayer Conservatory since 1985.  She has played professionally in the Worcester and Boston areas.  Katie loves passing on to her students the many things that she has learned in her career and watching them develop both as musicians and as people.

Fun fact: Ms Tibbit is a direct descendent of Suzannah North Martin, one of the Salem witches.  In her spare time, she loves gardening, baking, and cats.