Sue Kitts, Concertmaster of the Carson City Symphony, has taught violin and viola and performed professionally for more than thirty years. She began playing in the Carson City Symphony when she moved to Nevada in 2004, and she became founding director of the Symphony's highly successful "Strings in the Schools" and "Strings in the Summer" programs in 2005.

Ms. Kitts began her formal music instruction at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and went on to become part of its music faculty, serving as Director of the Preparatory School in Strings. She studied violin performance and pedagogy extensively in Oxford, England, with internationally acclaimed string teacher and lecturer, Kató Havas, author of A New Approach to Violin Playing, Stage Fright, Its Causes and Cures, and other instructive books and videos. Ms. Kitts presented a paper, "A New Approach to Practicing," at the 1990 "Playing Less Hurt" Conference in Minneapolis, MN. She is accredited as a representative teacher of the New Approach.

Ms. Kitts has played professionally with the Duluth Superior Symphony, the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, and the University of Minnesota, Duluth, String Quartet. She served as concertmaster of the University of Minnesota, Duluth, Symphony Orchestra and the Oklahoma Community Orchestra.

In Nevada, Ms. Kitts has been principal viola of the Carson City Symphony, concertmaster of the Ruby Mountain Symphony, and member of the Foundation Orchestra, the Carson Valley Pops Orchestra, and the Silver Strings, Sierra Strings and other chamber music groups. She has played fiddle with the Celtic-inspired folk group Gáirín.

Ms. Kitts teaches violin and viola privately in her studio at Play Your Own Music in Carson City, where she also leads the "Not Quite Ready For Carnegie Hall Players," a string ensemble for adult beginners.

-------------------------------------

This page updated 3/8/07

Return to home page