Kate Labiak has a long-standing history with the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras — she has served as the Symphonette Orchestra Conductor since 2003, as a clarinet/woodwind coach since 1996, and also as an alum (1990-92).

Ms. Labiak currently teaches instrumental music at College Place Middle School in the Edmonds School District. As the 2014 recipient of the Washington Music Educators Association’s award for Middle School Teacher of the Year, Ms. Labiak has a diverse background of teaching experience including directing bands and orchestras from the elementary through high school levels, middle school general music (steel drums), and serving as adjunct faculty for Central Washington University. Most recently, she founded the Edmonds School District’s Middle School Girls’ Jazz Program, which provides extracurricular jazz experience to middle school aged girls.

She earned degrees from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music in Music Education, 1997) and Central Washington University (Master of Music in Conducting, 2002). Elected to the WMEA Executive Board in 2014, Ms. Labiak recently finished serving her second term as Secretary-Treasurer.  She resides in Edmonds with her husband, Mark, and their two ceaselessly hungry kitties.