About Outer Loop Bassoon
Outer Loop Bassoon is a music studio based in Floresville, Texas. Our mission is to provide affordable private music instruction and handmade bassoon reeds to young musicians located outside of San Antonio's Loop 1604.
In addition to providing bassoon-focused services, Outer Loop Bassoon is also available for marching instruction and master classes in practice strategies and beginner woodwind basics.
Katie Martz
Bassoonist, Educator, Reed Maker
Originally from western Maryland, Katie began her musical journey playing the clarinet in 4th grade. After five years of playing clarinet, she made the switch to bassoon her freshman year of high school.
Katie studied with Maryland Symphony Orchestra bassoonist, Scott Cassada throughout high school and into college where she attended Shepherd University.
While at Shepherd, Katie played bassoon in the wind ensemble, the preparatory orchestra, chamber ensembles, and she sang in the chamber choir, played bari sax in the jazz ensemble, and marched drum line in the Ram Band. In 2004 Katie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Performance.
Soon after a move to Texas, Katie attained her alternate certification through Texas Teachers in 2013 where she taught 6th and 7th grade English Language Arts and Reading to students receiving special education and English as a Second Language services. When her teaching schedule would allow, Katie played bassoon in community ensembles including Starlight Symphony Orchestra in Wimberley, TX and the University of Incarnate Word Orchestra in San Antonio, TX. In 2020, Katie left the public education classroom to focus on her musical career full-time.
Since her return to the bassoon, Katie has studied bassoon and reed making with teaching artist Sabrina Stovall, bassoonist and founding member of Adelante Winds and Sharon Kuster, former principal bassoonist of the San Antonio Symphony. As an active orchestral player, Katie plays second bassoon with the Symphony of the Hills Orchestra in Kerrville, TX and often performs with the University of Incarnate Word Orchestra, and Alamo City Symphony Viva.
In addition to teaching, reed-making, playing in orchestras, Katie is a marching instructor for the Mighty Pirate Band in Poth, TX, and she is co-founder of the River City Winds ensemble, a San Antonio-based chamber ensemble.
Extending her educational background to her music pedagogy, Katie believes that when given structure, modeling, and setting attainable goals, all individuals can learn, grow, and become independent thinkers.