Suzy Chen ’14: Episcopal Academy’s music department has been growing stronger each year; however, the orchestra program in particular has seen much improvement since Katie Bechtold came to Episcopal six years ago as a member of the music department faculty.
Bechtold’s efforts and contributions have been crucial to the development of the string orchestra program at Episcopal. “My goal was to strengthen and grow the orchestra program at EA, and that’s what I have been trying to do for the past six years,” said Bechtold. However, Bechtold’s music exploration goes far beyond her teaching at Episcopal. Scholium sat down with Bechtold to discuss her musical experience in and outside Episcopal.
Bechtold, who has been playing the violin since the age of four, received her degree from the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University, under the tutelage of William dePasquale. While in college, Bechtold was not planning on becoming a music teacher and she was certain that performance was what she wanted to pursue as a career in one form or another.
Bechtold’s passion and love of music inspired her to choose violin performance as her major. However, it was not without initial hesitation that Bechtold chose the path of music in college.
“As a junior in high school, I also considered journalism, broadcasting, and English-related majors, but music had been a huge part of my life since the age of four. It is so much of who I am that I couldn’t imagine a life without it,” explained Bechtold.
Bechtold stated, “When I was twenty-two years old, I graduated from college and was set to attend graduate school to further my studies in violin performance. That August, I received a call from Episcopal inviting me for an interview. They were given my name while looking for candidates for a new orchestra teacher.”
At that time, Bechtold was still not sure if teaching was the career path that she would choose. “When I was eighteen, I started teaching private violin and viola lessons to put myself through college, so I was comfortable with the idea of teaching ” she explained. She knew teaching in a classroom setting was very different from her past teaching experience. However, the offer from Episcopal was too wonderful to pass up.
In the beginning, it was challenging for her to get started and help build the string program. Bechtold elaborated, “The main challenges after I came to Episcopal were that I was not an education major and that the orchestral program was very small.”
It was not easy for her to build up the orchestra program at Episcopal, and Bechtold recognized the need to bring more students into the orchestra program. At first, Bechtold found teaching to be challenging, but as she became more comfortable in her role, the program became stronger and more students began to participate enthusiastically. She became convinced that education was the right choice for her, and decided to start her graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education.
According to Bechtold, it is the students that helped her to make the decision to stay at Episcopal and teach music. Bechtold hopes to convey her passion for music to her students and wants to “ensure that her students leave Episcopal with a love and respect for music.”
Thanks, in part, to the support from the school, the orchestra program is now thriving. Bechtold is always impressed with her students’ dedication and effort. “Becoming proficient on an instrument is work and students have to spend extra time and effort on it,” noted Bechtold.
For Bechtold, it is also a great pleasure to teach students how to play instruments they can enjoy for life, “I’m happy with the orchestra program we have right now. The ensembles continue to improve and grow every year, and the enthusiasm of the students makes it fun to come to work.” As a music teacher, Bechtold is constantly seeking ways to help her students gain confidence and get the chance to grow as musicians.
Bechtold is not only dedicated as a teacher; her musical journey goes beyond her teaching at Episcopal. “I regularly perform professionally and teach private lessons outside of school. I often have rehearsals on weeknights and performances on weekends.”
As a freelance musician, Bechtold performs with many regional ensembles, including the Kennett Symphony Orchestra, the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, the Pottstown Symphony Orchestra, and University of Pennsylvania ensembles. She also performs for different touring acts at the Kimmel Center, works for Elan Artists, a Manhattan-based entertainment company, as well as Our Mother of Good Counsel Church in Bryn Mawr. As a music lover, Bechtold feels fortunate that her passion for music finds satisfying outlets both at Episcopal and elsewhere.