After playing tenor for several years with the City of Regina Pipe Band in Grade 2, Kate Dudek (then Kate Rennie) competed in Grade 1 with the 78th Fraser Highlanders. Becoming a World Champion as a member of the Best Drum Corps and Best Bass Section in Grade 1 at the World Pipe Band Championships in 2007 was a particular career highlight.

She has been instructing, composing, and choreographing for tenor and bass drummers in private lessons and bands in Southern Ontario since 2008. The bands she works with are regular recipients of the Best Bass Section awards in the Ontario games circuit, including the Guelph Pipe Band, Grade 3 North American Champions and Best Bass Section in 2019 and 2023. As of 2024, in roles as lead tenor and/or instructor, Kate has prepared 44 different grade 5, 4, 3, and 2 bass and tenor sections for competitions, with composition, choreography, tuning/drum maintenance, and instruction.

Several of Kate’s drumming students have gone on to play in and lead grade 1 bands: in 2017, the lead tenor drummers of all three Toronto Area Grade 1 bands at the time were Kate's former students from her days teaching and composing/choreographing for Paris Port Dover Pipe Band in grades 5, 4, 3 and 2. 

Kate has Intermediate and Advanced Theory and Harmony Certifications from the Royal Conservatory of Music, is a current member of the PPBSO Music Committee (and has been for the past 10 years), and has been certified to judge bass and tenor for the PPPBSO since 2014.

Kate is available to write scores for band tenor and bass sections or solo tenor/bass, group workshops as well as instruction for bands (ongoing or workshops), and solo lessons. She is currently working primarily via online sessions.

Kate's education in engineering, extensive tenor drumming experience, and background in babywearing, rock climbing, and adventure courses informed Kate's creation of the katenor™ harness. It is the most comfortable tenor harness on the market, both while standing, playing, and marching.  It is adjustable for a wide range of body sizes and offers individualized fitting.

If you need a harness outside the range that we offer, please reach out and we can make a custom one for you.