We’re looking forward to introducing you to Katie Jenkins. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Katie, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I’ve been loving the fall in New York City — it’s such a great time to really enjoy your surroundings. The weather finally hits that perfect balance, and Central Park is the best spot to take in the fall colors. I’ve been getting out of the city for day trips too — going apple picking, heading upstate to Cold Spring for hikes, or just spending more time outside to run and de-stress. It’s a good reset before winter really kicks in.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Katie Jenkins, a Welsh composer and producer based between New York City and London. I create music for concert hall, stage, screen, and multimedia, with a particular focus on large-scale orchestral projects. My work is deeply rooted in my Welsh heritage, but also shaped by the energy and diversity of New York — a blend that has become central to my artistic identity.
I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with leading ensembles and institutions, including the London Symphony Orchestra and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios, members of the New York City Ballet, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and New York Fashion Week. I’m currently on the pre-college faculty at The Juilliard School, where I teach screen scoring and music production, and I’m passionate about mentoring young composers, especially women and artists from rural or underrepresented backgrounds.
What makes my work unique is its cross-disciplinary nature — I love building unexpected bridges between classical music, storytelling, dance, film, and cultural heritage. Whether I’m scoring for a fashion show, composing for ballet, or recording with a full symphony orchestra, I aim to create immersive experiences that feel both emotionally resonant and boldly contemporary.
Right now, I’m working on several exciting projects: a premiere at Carnegie Hall and a slate of upcoming orchestral releases — including a recent recording of A Solar Symphony with the LSO at Abbey Road Studios.
At the heart of everything I do is a desire to create community and connectivity through concert experiences, to elevate women’s voices, and show young artists that no matter where you come from, your story has the power to reach the world.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
One of my earliest memories of feeling powerful was when I was 15 and attended the European Youth Summer Music School to write my very first orchestral piece. I truly had no idea what I was doing — I’d never written for a full orchestra before — but somehow I managed to bring all these incredible young musicians together and create something that moved people.
I’ll never forget watching the audience react. It was the first moment I realised, wow — I can actually make people feel something with music. Even with minimal training, the emotions translated. That experience lit a fire in me. I wanted to get better, to understand the craft, and to keep creating moments that could shift someone’s mood, perspective, or day. It was the moment I understood the power of music — and my own potential within it.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be: trust the process.
When I first attended the Juilliard School at 18, I was surrounded by people who were child prodigies or had far more prior training than I did. I constantly felt like I was behind — that I’d never be as good or as successful as everyone around me. I wanted everything to happen immediately: to be releasing music, building a career, streaming music online… all before I had even learned the ropes.
But patience is powerful. With persistence, showing up every day for myself, and letting each stage unfold in its own time, the opportunities came — and they continue to come. I’d tell my younger self that growth isn’t supposed to be instant, and that she was exactly where she needed to be.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
A cultural value I protect at all costs is the deep sense of family and community that is so central to Welsh life. Growing up in the South Wales Valleys, I remember my nan being something of a local celebrity — everyone knew her name at the supermarket, and we couldn’t make it down the fruit-and-veg aisle without being stopped by half the town. And for good reason: she made everyone feel like family. She took the time to talk to people, to listen, to check in — whether she’d known them for years or had just met them.
The terraced houses of the Rhondda Valleys have this beautiful “open-door” culture, where neighbours pop in unannounced, look out for one another, and treat the whole street like an extended family. That spirit of kindness, connection, and genuine care is something I try to carry with me wherever I go — checking in on friends, creating community within my found circles, and always treating people with warmth. It’s one of the greatest gifts Welsh culture gave me.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m definitely doing what I was born to do. I feel an almost instinctive sense of alignment when I’m composing — both in the process itself and in the result. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of being fully immersed in writing, when the ideas land exactly where they’re meant to, or the moment I see an audience react to a new work for the first time.
I’m incredibly grateful that my path has led me to a life where my passion and my purpose are the same thing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.katiejenkinscomposer.com
- Instagram: katieejenks
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