Photo credit: Angela Mia Photography
Kaitlyn Fay Koch is an educator, jazz vocalist, flutist, and baritone saxophonist, holding a M.M. in Jazz Voice Performance from William Paterson University and a B.S. in Music Education and Classical Flute Performance from Elon University. Kaitlyn has taught instrumental, vocal and general music for grades 4-12, in addition to maintaining a private studio.
As a jazz vocalist, Kaitlyn has performed in venues across New York City, New Jersey, Westchester County, the Capital Region of New York, as well as the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany. Her sophomore album, "Cockeyed Optimist" (2025), features fresh takes on jazz standards and Great American Songbook selections in addition to some original compositions and lyrics. As part of the 35th Annual Jazz Room concert series at William Paterson University, Kaitlyn opened for jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli with her Ella Fitzgerald Tribute Ensemble, and opened for the Count Basie Orchestra with the WPU Vocal Jazz Studio. Her debut jazz standards album, "Curiosity," was released in 2013; and in the summer of 2014, Kaitlyn was a featured vocalist in the Hudson Valley Jazz Festival alongside Judi Silvano. In 2017 Kaitlyn was selected as the recipient of the Sennheiser Scholarship Award at the New York Voices Vocal Jazz Camp. The Kaitlyn Fay Quartet has been featured in Schenectady's "Jazz On Jay" series, as well as Schenectady Porchfest. As a baritone saxophonist, she has performed and recorded with the New Jersey-based big band Big Beat, and the upstate-New York band Big Soul Ensemble (led by Keith Pray). Kaitlyn also plays baritone saxophone and sings with the BWC Jazz Orchestra around the New York Capital Region.
Kaitlyn has presented clinics at music education and jazz conferences across the country, including the Jazz Education Network, New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA), North Carolina Music Educators Association, Humanities Education Research Association, and the International Society for Improvised Music. Her research has been published in the journal "JAZZ Education in Research and Practice." She currently contributes to NYSSMA's official magazine, "School Music News" as the Vocal Jazz Review Editor.
In demand as a guest conductor of vocal jazz ensembles, Kaitlyn has directed all-county groups across New York and Pennsylvania. Kaitlyn is a NYSSMA Voice and All-State Vocal Jazz Adjudicator, and served as the Chairperson for the All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble for 2022-2023. Her private students have been accepted into the Empire State Youth Orchestra ensembles, the Saratoga Youth Symphony and NYSSMA All-State instrumental and vocal ensembles. For her work as an educator at Waterford-Halfmoon UFSD, Kaitlyn was named as a 2026 Quarterfinalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award.
Kaitlyn currently resides in Latham, NY and is accepting new private students for both classical and jazz music lessons. For more information or to schedule a lesson, please visit the contact page.