KATHLEEN BARTKOWSKI

Collaborative Pianist

Kathleen Bartkowski is a sought-after accompanist for choral festivals and a wide variety of community, college, and professional ensembles. In addition to her work as Collaborative Pianist for the Vernon Chorale, she also serves as the Associate Music Director for the Connecticut shoreline community choir, Con Brio. Her extensive experience includes accompanying groups such as the Vermont Opera Theater, Mak’hela (Jewish Chorus of Western Massachusetts), the Mystic River Chorale, and many honor choirs and conference sessions organized by ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) and NAfME (National Association for Music Education) at local, state, and national levels. Notable highlights of her career include performances with the Connecticut All-State Honor choirs, New York All-State Honor Choir, and the ACDA National Men’s Honor Choir. Kathleen has also toured Europe with the UMass choirs and the Mystic River Chorale on multiple occasions.

Kathleen holds a Master of Music degree in Piano Accompanying from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. During her studies, she accompanied the University Chamber Choir, Chorale, vocalists, and instrumentalists. While at UMass, she was awarded the Eugenie M. May Award for Piano Performance. Kathleen also earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Connecticut, where she was the accompanist for the choral department, including the University Chorale, Concert Choir, and Graduate Vocal Ensemble, as well as various vocalists and instrumentalists. While at UConn, she was distinguished with a University String Scholarship and the Victor Borge Scholarship.

With over 40 years of experience playing for churches, Kathleen currently serves as the Organist for St. Luke Lutheran Church in Gales Ferry, Connecticut. She has also contributed as a Member-at-Large on the Connecticut ACDA and the New London
County American Guild of Organists (AGO) executive boards. Kathleen's professional achievements have been recognized in publications such as Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who of American Women, and Who’s Who in the World. This year, she is contracted to perform at several events, including the NCCC and Northern Region festival honor choirs.

Kathleen resides in Colchester with her husband, Doug, their cats, Milo and Marmalade, and a goldfish named Maggie.