Kathleen Feenstra
Composer, arranger, pianist, piano teacher
Website • YouTube • Canadian Music Centre • Soundcloud
Contact – https://sardispiano.com/contact
Bio
Kathleen Feenstra, ARCT, RMT, H.B.Sc
Kathleen Feenstra is a composer, arranger, piano teacher, and pianist based in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley, where she has been teaching piano and theory since 2001. An Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre and a member of the Association of Canadian Women Composers, she is passionate about composing pedagogical works that inspire developing musicians.
To date, Kathleen has created over 100 original works for piano, with a special joy in seeing her students premiere them at recitals and festivals. Her music has been published in five books by 80 Days Publishing, featuring pieces for students at all levels. These collections are available through Kings Music in Abbotsford and Chilliwack, as well as online. In addition to her original works, she has created numerous arrangements of popular pieces tailored to her students’ interests and needs.
Kathleen is a three-time winner of the CFMTA Call for Compositions:
Rocky Mountain Ride (1st place, Level 3/4 – 2016)
Maple Syrup Moon (1st place, Level 5/6 – 2022)
Snow Day (1st place, Level 3/4 – 2025)
Her compositions are included in the ACWC Piano Collective Score Catalogue and appear in the ACNMP Contemporary Showcase Festival Syllabus. Performances of her work can be viewed online, and her album Threads of Starlight is available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon Music, and SoundCloud.
Kathleen holds ARCT diplomas in both Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy from the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has received multiple awards for excellence in teaching, including the B.C. RCM Gold Medal for Elementary Pedagogy (2016) and the BCRMTA Piano Pedagogy Award (2019) for achieving the highest aggregate mark in the province. She also holds specialist designations in Piano (Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced) and in Theory (Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced Harmony).
A lifelong musician, Kathleen began playing piano by ear as a child before beginning formal lessons. She studied with Brenda Cottrill and later with Dr. Betty Suderman, receiving numerous festival awards and the district music award during high school. While completing her Honours Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Environmental Science, she studied composition and continued to develop her musical voice. She later completed her ARCT in performance under Leslie Janos and her ARCT in pedagogy under Jean Ritter.
Kathleen is currently studying composition and orchestration, continually pushing her boundaries as a composer and embracing the mindset of a lifelong student. She continues to compose, teach, and perform, drawing inspiration from her students, the natural world, and the joy of creative expression.
List of Works
All piano books are available at Kings Music and online through 80 Days Publishing & Harbridge & Wanless Music (North American Purchases) and Musicroom (European Purchases). All individual scores are available through Sheet Music Plus and Sheet Music Direct. For a full list of works with recordings, please visit the composer’s website: www.sardispiano.com/compositions
Orchestral
The Sea of Tranquility (2024) — junior piano concerto (3 min)
Premiered by the Chilliwack Symphony Orchestra as part of the Piano Extravaganza concert at the Chilliwack Cultural Center.
Composed for a pianist playing at RCM level 2.
Takeoff (2025) — piano concerto (4 min)
1st Movement premiered by the Valley Symphony Orchestra as part of the Rising Piano Stars concert at the Chilliwack Cultural Center.
Composed for a pianist playing at RCM level 9.
Published Piano Books
A collection of imaginative piano solos and duets for Early Elementary Level Students. The descriptive titles will draw students in, and will open up a wonderful world of beautiful sound colours and musical expression. For Prep A - Level 1 piano.
A collection of playful and imaginative piano solos for Elementary Level Students. It is a collection of pieces that students of all ages will enjoy. For Levels 1 - 3 piano.
A collection of imaginative piano solos for Late Elementary and Intermediate Level Students. The Late Elementary pieces are playful in nature while the Intermediate Level pieces are expressive and hauntingly beautiful. For Levels 3 - 7 piano.
A collection of expressive, heartfelt atmospheric piano solos for Late Intermediate and Advanced Level Students. It is a collection that students of all ages will enjoy. The whimsical titles of the pieces will open up each student’s imagination and inspire personal expression. For Levels 8 - 9 piano.
A collection of expressive, lyrical piano solos for Late Intermediate & Early Advanced Level Students. The descriptive titles will draw students in, opening up a wonderful world of beautiful sound colours and musical expression. It is a collection that skilled students can connect with and enjoy. For Levels 8-9 piano.
Individual Works for Solo Piano & Piano Duet – see full list at www.sardispiano.com/compositions
Discography
Digital Release: “Threads of Starlight” (2022) — Kathleen Feenstra, pianist