Musician First Class (MU1), United States Navy Band
Katherine Velasquez serves as Musician First Class (MU1) and Co-Principal Flutist of the United States Coast Guard Band, a position she joined in 2024. Originally from Austin, Texas, she has built a multifaceted career as a performer, educator, entrepreneur, and advocate for innovation in the flute community.
Before joining the Coast Guard Band, Velasquez held principal flute positions with the West Texas Symphony and the Missouri Symphony Orchestra, while performing extensively throughout Texas with orchestras in Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. She also served on the faculties of the University of Texas Permian Basin and Odessa College.
An accomplished competitor, Velasquez is one of the few flutists to have won multiple first prizes in National Flute Association competitions. Her awards include First Prize in the NFA Alto Flute Competition (2019) and First Prize in the NFA Orchestral Audition & Masterclass Competition (2016). Her connection to military bands began early when she was selected as a finalist in the United States Marine Band Concerto Competition.
Beyond performance, Velasquez is recognized as an innovator and leader within the flute world. She founded the Virtual Flute Music Festival, an international online educational initiative that brought together students and professionals from around the globe through world-class instruction, artistic development, and mindset training. Her work continues to influence conversations about creativity, leadership, and career development in music.
A sought-after speaker and educator, Velasquez has shared her perspectives on courage, resilience, and artistic growth through educational programs and podcasts, drawing on experiences from both the music profession and the technology industry.
Velasquez holds degrees in Flute Performance from West Texas A&M University and Boston University, and has also studied at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music and the New England Conservatory. Her principal mentors include Elizabeth Rowe, Helen Blackburn, Linda Toote, Jim Walker, Paula Robison, and Ann Kjerulf Knien.
Known for her artistic versatility, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to excellence, Katherine Velasquez represents a new generation of flutists whose influence extends well beyond the concert stage.