Prof. Katie Franke

Titles and Organizations

Adjunct Faculty, TROMBONE, Dewberry School of Music, CVPA

Contact Information

Campus: Fairfax

Building: deLaski Performing Arts Building

Mail Stop: 3E3

Biography

Katie Franke, tenor trombonist, is the newly appointed adjunct applied trombone professor of George Mason University’s Dewberry School of Music, effective Fall 2024 semester. In October 2023, Katie Franke commenced her role as the first-ever female trombonist and low brass player in the history of the “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. As a member of “The President’s Own,” she regularly performs at ceremonies and concerts at the White House, as well as around the D.C. area and throughout the United States.

Originally from Falls Church, VA, Katie Franke earned a Bachelor of Music from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, studying under Peter Ellefson, and a Master of Music from the New England Conservatory, studying under Steve Lange. Her other primary trombone teachers include Craig Mulcahy and William McElheney.

In addition to her duties with “The President’s Own,” Katie Franke is an active orchestral trombonist and has performed throughout the United States with ensembles such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony Orchestra, New Mexico Philharmonic, and the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra. She has also been a participant in the National Orchestral Institute, Festival Napa Valley’s Blackburn Music Academy, the Kennedy Center Summer Music Institute, and the Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy (PRISMA) in Canada.

As an active music educator, Prof. Franke has presented masterclasses at The Ohio State University and The University of Maryland, and recently spoke on the education panel at The American Trombone Workshop. She has taught students of all ages around the country and looks forward to serving as the new Adjunct Professor of Trombone at the George Mason University Dewberry School of Music. Prof. Franke strives to be a leader in her field and set an example for the next generation of female brass players.

Adjunct Professor of Music

  • Applied Trombone

Education 

  • BM, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
  • MM, New England Conservatory