Violist Kathryn Hilger is a Kansas City based freelance musician and music educator. Ms. Hilger holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Viola Performance from the UMKC Conservatory and the Cleveland Institute of Music, respectively. 

 

Ms. Hilger serves as the Artistic Director and Principal Violist for Midwest Chamber Ensemble, the Principal Violist for the Topeka Symphony and is a regular substitute violist with the Kansas City Symphony. She regularly performs weddings and events in the Kansas City Area.

 

Kathryn began teaching private lessons at the age of 16, maintaining a private studio of varying size throughout her secondary education and early career. In 2021, she began teaching after-school group classes for Harmony Project KC, an endeavor that expanded to include weekly group classes within the school day at two elementary schools. Sponsored by Harmony Project, Kathryn went on to complete the Teaching Artist Training Institute, a program that provides training specific to El Sistema based programs for teachers approaching pedagogy from a performance background. Kathryn also serves as an Artist in Residence with the Kansas City Public Schools, developing emerging orchestral programs at area high schools and middle schools.

 

Past achievements include: Solo performances with the Medical Arts Symphony and Midwest Chamber Ensemble, Chamber Music Coordinator for Midwest Chamber Ensemble, positions with the Lee’s Summit and Firelands Symphonies, viola instructor at the Cleveland School of the Arts, section viola in the National Repertory Orchestra and Principal Viola for the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute. Kathryn also has experience in stage managing, box office, string instrument repair, bookkeeping and data management.