Catherine Anne Willey Age: 16 Categoy: Junior - 1st Place Winner, 2008 RMO Competition Instrument: Cello Composition: Requiebros, by Cassadó

Catherine Anne Willey, 16, is a student of Kayson Brown. Catherine started playing the cello when she was one year old. Her former teachers include Carey Cheney and Richard Hoyt.

Catherine has soloed with eight orchestras, including Utah Symphony’s Salute to Youth, and the Utah Valley Symphony. She soloed on organ at the Assembly Hall, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the LDS Conference Center. At 14, she became the youngest Music Missionary in the Orchestra at Temple Square. Catherine was principal cellist in Utah’s All-State Orchestra (three-times), the Lyceum Philharmonic, & the 2007 Debut National Orchestra in Mt. Rushmore, where she soloed for an international audience. Catherine has won prizes eight times in the Utah State Fair in cello and organ, including First Place in 2008.

A 4.0 Junior, and avid Latin scholar, reader, and especially writer, Catherine has earned her Young Woman's Recognition Award. At 12, she authored her first novel, and last summer was the youngest participant in the 2008 BYU Writers’ Workshop. Catherine serves as assistant organist in her church.

Catherine is the RMO’s 2008 Annual Concerto Competition winner in the Junior Category. Due to copyright challenges with her competition piece, the RMO was unable to perform Catherine’s winning piece in last year’s “Spotlight Special” program.