Katherine Lewis

Biography

Violist Katherine Lewis enjoys a multi-faceted career as a teacher, and as a solo, chamber, and orchestral musician. Since 2006 she has taught courses on viola performance and technique, viola pedagogy, string pedagogy, and chamber music at Illinois State University where she is Professor of Viola and Interim Director/Master Teacher for the ISU String Project. As a performer, she is a member of the ISU Faculty String Quartet, principal viola in the Peoria Symphony and Peoria Bach Festival Orchestras, and gives numerous solo performances each year throughout the U.S.

Dr. Lewis is active in the viola community at both a local and national level. She currently serves as past-president of the Illinois chapter of the American String Teacher’s Association. Recently, she completed a three-year term as an elected member of the American Viola Society Executive Board, where she served as chair of the Education Committee, working to broaden educational offerings through media and programming. She also is the founder and director of ‘Redbird Viola Day’ at Illinois State University and the festival director of the ‘Chicago Viola Festival’ hosted by Midwest Young Artists Conservatory.

Dr. Lewis is a recipient of several awards and grants for her teaching, research, and service including the ISU College of Fine Arts Outstanding Teaching Award, the ISU College of Fine Arts Outstanding Researcher and Research Initiative Awards, and the ISU University Service Initiative Award. She has given recitals, presentations, and master classes at venues and conferences throughout the country and in Brazil. Additionally, she is the co-creator of the Viola Ensemble Database, which is currently housed on the website for the American Viola Society.

Dr. Lewis holds degrees from Rice University (DMA), The Cleveland Institute of Music (MM), and Lawrence University (BM). Her primary teachers include Jeffrey Irvine, Karen Ritscher, James Dunham, and Matthew Michelic.