About

Kathleen Larson is an accomplished cellist and a dedicated and experienced teacher. She started cello lessons at age 4 with Suzuki-trained teacher Gretchen Gettes. In high school, she decided to pursue cello more seriously and began studying with Evelyn Elsing, Professor of Cello at University of Maryland. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Music from UMD in May 2017, where she continued her studies under Evelyn Elsing, until her retirement, and then studied with David Teie, section cellist of the National Symphony Orchestra. She completed her Master of Music in cello performance in 2019 at Cleveland State University, studying with Alan Harrell and Charles Bernard (both section cellists in The Cleveland Orchestra). A winner of the Daniel Rains Solo Competition, she performed Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme with the CSU Symphony Orchestra. Kathleen has had the opportunity to play in master classes for Wei Yu, Norman Fisher, Peter Wiley, Peter Otto, and Bryan Dumm.

Kathleen spent three summers as the cellist on staff for the Adirondacks Performing Arts Fellowship, performing in several concerts each week both in chamber and large ensembles. She has performed several times at Carnegie Hall and the Eisenhower Theater at the Kennedy Center, joining Keith and Kristyn Getty and their band for their Christmas tour. During her senior year at UMD, Kathleen’s quartet was awarded the honor of performing on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center. While at CSU, Kathleen was the cellist for the graduate string quartet, which regularly performed outreach concerts at local elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as at Cleveland State.

Throughout her cello studies, Kathleen developed a deep appreciation for and connection with her teachers. From the age of 11, she began to dream of being a ‘Ms. Gettes’ and having that same important role in other young cellists’ lives. Through babysitting and mentoring throughout high school and undergrad, her love of working with children of all ages grew. While working on her masters degree, she also completed long-term training in Cello Suzuki Pedagogy, covering the philosophy and books 1-10, at Cleveland Institute of Music with Teacher Trainer Abbey Hansen. During her training, Kathleen taught private lessons and group classes of varying levels with oversight and feedback from her trainer. Kathleen taught over 15 students at Aurora School of Music for two years, while she lived in Cleveland, as well as several in her small, private Suzuki studio. Her extensive work as a nanny, during her time as a graduate student and private teacher, has added to her tool chest of communication and instruction strategies. Through her vast teaching experience including 3-year-olds, those with differing abilities, and adults, Kathleen meets each student where they are with specific goals to help them find joy in creating music to the best of their ability. 

Having recently moved to Gahanna, Kathleen is looking forward to growing her private studio here. Currently, she enjoys playing with the worship team at her church. In moments of free time, she can be found reading or taking walks with her husband and her golden retriever, Maisie.

Her Suzuki training can be viewed here: https://suzukiassociation.org/people/kathleen-larson/