Kathleen Gallagher-McLellan has had a unique and ever-evolving journey throughout her violin career. As a "Suzuki Kid," she began playing the violin at age five—after repeatedly running up to strangers and announcing, "I’m going to play the violin one day!" Thankfully, her mother took the hint.

This early exposure to the Suzuki Method profoundly shaped her approach to music and teaching. Today, her mission is to create a holistic, nurturing studio environment where young violinists and violists develop confidence and ease in their playing through listening, repetition, and artistic commitment. She is passionate about fostering each student’s unique personality through the discipline of music while prioritizing healthy body alignment and awareness. Kathleen also actively cultivates a positive studio culture, ensuring that students thrive both musically and personally.

After completing Suzuki Violin Book 4, Kathleen transitioned to a more traditional pedagogical approach, which led her to attend Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, where she studied with Hal Grossman. During her time at Interlochen, she served as Concertmaster of the academy’s orchestra and received the Distinguished Violin Award. She then attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, studying with Frank Huang and participating in a quartet program coached by the Ying Quartet. Throughout her studies, she performed across Austria, Hungary, and much of the U.S.

While at Eastman, Kathleen began reflecting on her relationship with the violin and what role music would play in her future. The formative experiences of her early Suzuki studies led her to pursue Suzuki Method training, and from her very first Suzuki Book 1 teacher training, she knew she had found a new and deeply fulfilling approach to teaching. She has since committed to the pursuit of lifelong learning and is fully certified to teach Suzuki Books 1–10 through the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA), where she was also honored with the Distinguished Young Teacher Award.

Kathleen completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance at California State University, Sacramento, where she studied with Professor Anna Presler and served as teaching assistant for the violin studio. She also held the position of Concertmaster for the Sacramento State Symphony Orchestra. In addition to her teaching and performance career, Kathleen has presented research at major conferences, including:

"Fostering Self-Evaluation and Program Assessment" at the 2023 American String Teachers Association (ASTA) National Conference in Orlando, Florida.

"Gravity: Tools for Tone Development" at the 2024 ASTA & SAA Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, in collaboration with her colleague Elena Bolha.

Kathleen currently accepts students in Sacramento, California, where she lives with her husband and chocolate lab, Jemma. She is the Applied Violin Instructor at Cosumnes River College and regularly performs as Associate Concertmaster for the Auburn Symphony, Camerata California, and Modesto Opera. She also serves as a Section Violinist with the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, Sacramento Choral Society, Vallejo Symphony, and Music in the Mountains.

She is a registered member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA), Suzuki Music Association of California, Suzuki Association of Northern California, American String Teachers Association (ASTA), and the American Federation of Musicians Local 12.

When she’s not teaching or performing, Kathleen enjoys camping, gardening, and reading novels.