KATHARINE PETKOVSKI (b. 1997) is a Toronto-based composer and pianist known for her emotive, minimalist approach and innovative cross-disciplinary collaborations. Her work spans film, choral, and chamber music, often exploring themes of reflection, belonging, and connection through sound and storytelling.
Named by CBC as one of “30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30,” Katharine’s music has reached audiences through performances by celebrated ensembles such as the Vancouver Chamber Choir, musica intima, Amadeus Choir, Odin Quartet, and the National Youth Choir of Canada. She has participated in Soundstreams’ RBC Bridges Emerging Composers Program, the SOCAN Screen Music Lab (presented by SOCAN in partnership with Ubisoft), the Choral Creation Lab (presented by Amadeus Choir), novum musica (presented by musica intima and the Canadian Music Centre), the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra New Generation Composition Program, and the Bowdoin International Music Festival. Her work has garnered numerous awards, including first place in SOCAN Foundation’s Emerging Screen Composer Awards (2024), the Diane Loomer Award presented by Choral Canada (2024), and the NDSU Edwin Fissinger Choral Composition Prize (2023). Her scores have been featured at festivals such as the Ottawa International Animation Festival ("Freedom"), Vancouver International Film Festival ("Coin Slot"), and TIFF Next Wave ("With Love from Munera"). In addition to her work in film and concert music, her compositions have been used commercially, including by Team Canada for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games.
Katharine holds a BMus (’19) and MMus (’21) in Composition from the University of Toronto, where she was awarded the Tecumseh Sherman Rogers Graduating Award, valued at $25,000. She has been mentored by esteemed composers and music leaders including Tarik O’Regan, Derek Bermel, James Rolfe, and Norbert Palej. She is an active member of the Screen Composer’s Guild of Canada, the Canadian League of Composers, and the Alliance for Women Film Composers. Deeply committed to storytelling through music, Katharine strives to create works that resonate emotionally and forge meaningful connections between sound and narrative.
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