About Kaila

Bio

Violinist Kaila Graef has performed with a diverse range of groups, including a swing band in Baltimore, the Springfield Symphony, the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and Vermont's Juno Orchestra. As a member of the Wistaria String Quartet, Kaila performs regularly in concerts throughout Western Massachusetts, appearing in Plainfield’s Concerts at 7, the Summit House Sunset Concert Series, the Montague Bookmill, and the Five College New Music Festival. Kaila has done studio recording work for a number of albums, including “Yes Darling” by singer-songwriter Ryan Montbleau and several albums of chamber music by composer Scott Slapin. On stage, Kaila has collaborated with musicians such as fiddler Darol Anger and jazz pianist Helen Sung.

Kaila was born in Rochester, NY. She began violin lessons with Amy Fletcher at age six soon after hearing Ms. Fletcher perform at the Rochester Zen Center. When her family moved to Vermont a couple years later, Kaila continued lessons with Carolyn Long, who introduced her to the wonderful Vermont Youth Orchestra Association. Through the VYO, Kaila had her first experiences playing not only in an orchestra, but also playing string quartets. She quickly fell in love with chamber music. In high school, Kaila studied with Evelyn Read, the Principal Second Violinist of the Vermont Symphony.

Kaila holds a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance from Peabody Conservatory, where she was a student of Shirley Givens and studied chamber music with Earl Carlyss of the Juilliard Quartet. She earned her M.M. in violin performance from UMass Amherst, studying with Marylou Speaker Churchill, the late Principal Second Violinist of the Boston Symphony. As a member of the Graduate String Quartet, Kaila studied chamber music with members of the Lark Quartet and performed in master classes with the Pacifica Quartet, Talich Quartet, St. Lawrence Quartet, and Miró Quartet.

At Peabody, a pedagogy course taught by Rebecca Henry sparked Kaila’s interest in teaching. After completing her masters, she followed up with Suzuki teacher training, taking courses with Ronda Cole, Edmund Sprunger, Edward Kreitman, and Martha Shackford. Kaila has served on the faculties of the Vermont Youth Orchestra’s summer music camp, the Northampton Community Music Center, and Strings at Amherst. Kaila opened her private studio in 2005. Her current students range from young beginners to adult amateurs to advanced high school students. Kaila lives in Amherst with her husband Michael Lewis.