Catherine Scarbrough Fletcher received her Bachelor of Music degree from Lambuth University, and her Master of Arts degree in piano performance from Middle Tennessee State University. In 1985, she won first prize in the National Master's Piano Competition at the University of Memphis and went on to perform regionally as a soloist and chamber musician. While serving on the Rhodes College piano faculty, her life's direction took a turn into arts administration. She formerly served as director of community schools of the arts at Rhodes College and the University of Memphis, where she had much success in building arts programs for community members of all ages.

In the fall of 2004, she was asked by Arizona State University to build a community school of the arts from the ground up. The Herberger College Community School of the Arts, part of the Herberger College of the Arts, opened its doors in the summer of 2005 to wide acclaim and continues to grow, serving the college as well as the community. She maintains an active role in the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts, having represented community schools of the arts since 1989.

Giving back to the community has always been a strong focus of hers. While in Memphis, she began and participated in several community service projects. She gave free piano lessons to patients and their family members who lived at Target House and Ronald McDonald House during their treatment at St. Jude Research Hospital, as well as providing a pre-school music class for the children at Hope House, an area day care center for children affected by AIDS. Carrying on the tradition, the Herberger College Community School of the Arts focuses on underserved children with Saturday classes in art, dance, music and theatre in the ASU ArtsLab.