Wisconsin native and pianist, Dr. Kaitlin Gustafson, has been a top prize-winner in the Marvin O. Mechelke II Scholarship Competition, Thursday Musical Young Artists Scholarship Competition, and Schubert Club Scholarship Competition. In 2016, Kaitlin was a winner of the MasterWorks Festival Concerto Competition and performed with the Master Works Festival Orchestra and University of Minnesota Symphony Orchestra in Ted Mann Concert Hall. She has also participated in master classes with artists including Joyce Yang, Arthur Greene, Douglas Humphreys, and Steven Mayer.

Kaitlin received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where she studied with Distinguished McKnight Professor, Lydia Artymiw. She completed her Master’s of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at the University of Texas at Austin under the guidance of Anton Nel.

A passionate educator, Kaitlin has taught as a Teaching Assistant for the University of Texas as well as her own private studio and local music schools in Austin, TX. Kaitlin is also actively involved in the local Austin District Music Teachers National Association and has given presentations at the 2019 MTNA National Conference, 2022 Texas Music Teachers Association Conference, and 2023 MTNA National Conference on topics related to private and classroom instruction. Outside of the classical music sphere, Kaitlin enjoys arranging music for cello and piano with her duo partner and husband, Matthew Gustafson, in genres spanning funk, blues, and pop.