A native of Orange, California, Katrina Liao is a first-year graduate student in the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, pursuing a Master of Music in Organ Performance on a full-ride scholarship in the studio of Professor Martin Jean. Katrina currently serves as the organist at St. John’s Episcopal Church in New Haven, Connecticut. She is also one of the organ scholars at Marquand Chapel (the chapel for Yale Divinity School) and sings in the octet for Episcopal Church Yale.

Katrina began her keyboard studies with JoAnn Briggs (piano) and Janet Keulen Thorson (organ).  Katrina graduated Summa Cum Laude from Concordia University Irvine with her Bachelor of Arts in Church Music. There she studied organ with Dr. Tom Mueller and Dr. Emma Whitten. Katrina participated in Concordia’s chapel services, choir, handbells, chamber ensemble, orchestra, and collaborative piano. During her undergraduate years, Katrina worked at Trinity United Presbyterian Church Santa Ana as substitute organist, sanctuary band director, and worship associate.

Katrina is a ten-year recipient of the Orange County AGO’s Study Grant. At the 2024 National Convention in San Francisco, she presented at the AGOYO workshop on her undergraduate senior thesis and academic showcase titled “From Concert Hall to Church: The History of Hymns Derived from Classical Works.” In 2024, she also became an AGO Lifetime Member. She recently was appointed to the AGOYO committee and is looking forward to contributing her time and skills.