For Cathy Kautsky, professor of music, being back at Lawrence is like being reunited with an old friend. Kautsky, who spent 15 years at the college before moving to UW-Madison for six years, said it was Lawrence’s sense of community that drew her back. “I missed the interactions across disciplines and the model of learning here. I find it wonderful that I can work with people in fields both new and familiar to me. I loved my work with people in French, theatre, and gender studies in years past and can’t wait for more now that I am back.” Although it feels like she never left, she said the conservatory has changed — most notably with new course offerings in ethnomusicology and music theory.
Last year Kautsky completed a CD of the complete Debussy Préludes for Piano. She’s also doing work on the intersection of piano music and literature. “I love playing Debussy but as soon as I do, I want to read the book a certain piece is based on and write about that.” Included in her current research is a look at Schumann and the authors who specifically influenced him. She also maintains a busy performing schedule.
She said she feels she’s at her best when she’s crossing boundaries. “I feel as if I’m no more a solo pianist than I am a collaborative pianist; I like to play with singers as much as with violinists; I love playing contemporary music but I could never give up Schubert; I love teaching piano but I am so happy I get asked to do lectures for Freshman Studies; I’m primarily a performer but it gives me enormous satisfaction to write and to lecture.” It’s important that her students feel that sense that they can evolve, too. “There aren’t many jobs for someone who only plays piano; they’re going to have to find lots of ways to be interesting people. That’s what I love about his place — that’s the kind of people it wants to create.”
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