Katherine M. Ainsworth Narbona

1963 - 2010

Katherine (Kathy) Narbona, a pianist, singer, and flutist, taught music at all levels, from kindergarten through community college in a career that spanned over two decades. An accomplished pianist, she was known for upholding high standards in performance and church music, the excellence of her ensembles, and her dedication as a teacher.

Kathy was one of three children and the only daughter of Pacita and Phil Ainsworth. Although born in Montana, she was raised in California, where she attended San Francisco Junior Academy, Pacific Union College Preparatory School, and Pacific Union College. She attended PUC from 1981 to 1988, where she completed a B.Mus. in piano pedagogy and music education and a B.A. in French. A linguist, she was also able to converse easily in Italian and Spanish.

Immediately following graduation from college, Narbona taught for three years at PUC Preparatory School and then enrolled at Northern Arizona University, where she completed an M.Mus. in choral conducting in 1992. For the next four years she taught music, French, and Spanish at Flagstaff Middle School. After returning to California in 1996, she taught at Modesto Adventist Academy from August of that year to March 1999.

Beginning in 1998, she worked with Mary Kay Cosmetics and in the next twelve years became a sales director in that organization. In 2004, she became active as a professional pianist, serving as an accompanist for the Central Presbyterian Church in Merced, California, and as a pianist for Modesto Performing Arts. Starting in 2007 and continuing until 2009, she taught American Popular Music and music theory classes at Merced College.

In 2008 she formed the Modesto Boys Choir, which sang at the Community Hospice Tree Lighting ceremonies in 2008 and 2009 and at the May 2009 first annual International Day of the Child Festival held at Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto.

While pursuing undergraduate study in France for a year, she had met David Narbona. At the time of her death, they had been married 24 years and had one son, Michael.

ds/2010

Sources: Obituary, The Modesto Bee, January 13-15, 2010; Ceres Courier, January 20, 2010; PUC Viewpoint, Spring 2010, 28;