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As she stands at the podium in the middle of the room, Catherine Sailer welcomes the visitors and leads the choir while it rehearses songs.

Occasionally, Sailer will turn to the visitors and enthusiastically explain the translations of the various songs before she proceeds with her conducting. Her presence, while conducting, is palpable as she exudes enthusiasm.

Sailer is the chorale director at Lamont, the conductor for the Musica Sacra Orchestra and an associate for the Colorado Ballet.

Along with her three main occupations, she is also one of the keyboard players in the pit orchestra for the Broadway musical “Wicked,” a story about the witches in Oz, while it is in Denver.

She began playing in the pit a few years ago when she received a call from a contractor.

“I had never heard of it when I first got the call to play,” Sailer said. “I remember thinking,

‘That doesn’t sound like a very nice [title]. I don’t know what that means.'” 

But Sailer decided to play in the pit because she enjoys music so much. 

“Playing is definitely second to conducting, but I love it and I like to do it because I think it is really important for me to be on the other side of the podium,” said Sailer.

Sailer said she has always wanted to conduct. Initially she was fascinated by the way the conductor is not limited by an instrument and is able to embrace all of the music in an ensemble.

“The conductor has the sum of the music, the complete score,” Sailer said.

As a piano major at Lamont, Sailer began studying conducting as an undergraduate.  She decided that she wanted to pursue chorale conducting after being captivated by the music in a choir concert her freshman year.  After studying at DU, Sailer received her doctorate degree at Northwestern University.

“I sometimes fill [my calendar] too much,” said Sailer, “but I would rather do too much and be exhausted. I love it. I think more is more. All of the experiences feed into each other. I know I’m a better chorale conductor for working with the orchestra, and I know I’m a better orchestral conductor for working with the choir.”

Sailer said she is able to accomplish everything because she has a very supportive family and she is present wherever she is.

“If I’m at DU, all I’m thinking about is DU,” Sailer said. “I try to really focus where I am.”