Cathryn Cowell – Violin Viola Piano

Cathryn Cowell – Violin Viola Piano

Cathryn Cowell received her Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she studied under Mimi Zweig, and received her Master of Music degree at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London while studying under Simon Blendis. She began playing the violin at three years old and grew up performing in the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra.

After Guildhall, Cathryn returned to the United States and has since performed in numerous orchestras throughout the Midwest, including the Chicago Sinfonietta, Chicago Philharmonic, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Quad City Symphony Orchestra, Peoria Symphony Orchestra, Paderewski Symphony Orchestra, and Rockford Symphony Orchestra. In addition to her classical violin training, Cathryn is an accomplished Irish fiddler and has performed internationally with several Irish music groups.

Cathryn has taught classical violin and Irish fiddling for over 15 years at various music schools and through private lessons. Her philosophy as a music instructor is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for students of various ages and skill levels. She fosters a space where curiosity is encouraged, mistakes are embraced as learning opportunities, and every student’s unique pace is respected. By using a personalized approach, she adapts lessons to each student’s interests and needs to ensure that they feel confident in their progress while maintaining a love for music.

Outside of music, Cathryn enjoys practicing yoga, hiking, roller blading, and playing with her pet cat, Charlie.