Katharine Nelson

Katharine Nelson is a master’s student at University of Colorado Boulder College of Music, studying violin with Harumi Rhodes. She completed her undergraduate studies at Indiana University in 2025, where she studied with Simin Ganatra. Katharine won first prize in CU Boulder’s Ekstrand Memorial Graduate Student Competition in 2025. She won second prize in the National Federation of Music Clubs 2025 Student Collegiate Biennial Competition.

In 2023, she was a finalist in Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Mendelssohn Violin Concerto Competition. She performed the Shostakovich Octet alongside the Baumer String Quartet and other CU students in 2025. In 2023 and 2025, Katharine helped raise several thousand dollars through a benefit concert for a women’s shelter in Indiana. In January 2020 she organized a classical music concert that raised $3,154 for Public Action to Deliver Shelter and continues to host benefit concerts for various organizations.

Katharine has enjoyed summer music institutes at Colorado College, Festival Del Lago, Engers Academy, Chautauqua Music Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Indiana University, and University of Michigan. She has taken master classes with Sirena Huang, Christian Altenburger, Jorja Fleezanis, Stephanie Arado, Nurit Pacht, Vadim Gluzman, Mikhail Kopelman, and Lina Bahn. She is dedicated to fostering well rounded students, cultivating a welcoming environment, and encouraging joyful attitude towards music.