Ms. Kathy Sierra

Violin Teacher

Kathy Sierra

SAA Member

Contact

Brentwood, CA

Kathy Sierra is a classically trained violinist, and vocalist. The California native with a weakness for gourmet coffee is also an accomplished composer, arranger, producer and performer. She begged to play the violin starting at age four, began her Suzuki Method music studies at age five in Hawaii with Lynn Kline on violin, and performed with the Honolulu Symphony and other Suzuki violin students at age seven. Upon moving to Sacramento California in 1981, she continued her Suzuki Violin studies with Jeannette Bjorak and was Concertmistress of her middle school orchestra at the Sacramento Waldorf School. In high school, she studied with violinist Marlene Silva of Placerville, CA, and became the youngest member of El Dorado County’s Sierra Symphony.

From 1991 to 1995, Kathy performed, acted, sang, and danced for her BA degree in Drama with an emphasis on music from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois. While there, she served as the Concertmistress and soloist for the College Music Ensemble, studying Suzuki Method violin performance with Dr. Kent Perry of Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. Upon graduation, Kathy was presented with the College’s Francis Van Der Meid Smith Music Award for musical excellence, and the Frank Parker Theatre Award for greatest overall contribution to drama in the college theatre.

Kathy’s musical style took an exciting and eye-opening turn upon moving to Berkeley, CA. There she met violinist, producer, and composer Kaila Flexer, who became a mentor to Kathy on other styles of violin playing, including Irish and Scottish fiddle, Bulgarian folk, Klezmer and Jazz. During this period, Kathy performed with the Gold Country Chamber Orchestra in Sacramento, CA, and the 1999 inaugural performance of the Cotati Philharmonic in Cotati, CA.

Since 2001, Kathy has been touring internationally and recording with the Celtic Folk trio, Golden Bough. Additionally, she has performed with this group at hundreds of elementary schools throughout the continental United States. She is also an alumnus of San Francisco bay’s swing jazz quintet, Vive Le Jazz, with whom she was featured on it’s debut cd: Samois Faire. Finally, she studied with renowned vocal coach, Jane Sharp of Berkeley, CA from 2006-2008, and commenced her Suzuki Violin Method (ECC and Books 1-4) studies with Judy Bossuat of Stockton, CA.

Kathy is a registered Suzuki Violin Method teacher, offering Suzuki and Celtic-style instruction in her studio, as well as on tour.