About
Kira Bayer is a classically trained violinist from San Francisco, California. She has been playing the violin since age 7, and decided to pursue music at 14. She is now a 2nd year undergraduate student at New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. She is currently studying with Kristopher Tong of the Borromeo Quartet.
Chamber Music
Kira's strengths and focuses lie in chamber music, to which she has directed much of her time and training to. Both during high school and college, she has formed and performed with various ensembles, from piano trios, string quartets, and quintets. A proactive musician, she has organized recitals and gigs with these ensembles, showcasing both solo and chamber music in public venues.
Festivals & Collaborations
Kira has attended a few summer festivals over the years, including Bowdoin International Music Festival, Meadowmount School of Music and Virtuoso&Belcanto Festival in Lucca, Italy. This upcoming summer, she is planning on attending Center Stage Strings at University of Michigan, and was invited to partake in the Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival in Wales, UK. She has also participated in multiple projects with the Kronos Quartet, and has worked very closely with members of the Telegraph Quartet.
Teaching
She has taught young children on piano for Zoe Blake and Co. in San Francisco Bay Area, as well as private instruction and tutoring on violin for children ages 4-10. Kira's start to violin wasn't the most positive, and she only learned to enjoy it at age 14 after switching to a teacher that taught her how beautiful music can be. She is passionate about teaching the joy and beauty of music to the younger generation from the start of their education. Kira has also struggled with playing induced injuries, caused by poor technique from a young age. She has worked closely with a physical therapist to undo much of her bad habits so she can play the violin pain free. She feels strongly about teaching beginner violin players the proper set up for the instrument, to avoid future injuries. She is happy to speak more about any of her experiences or philosophies of music and violin.
Kira has completed Suzuki Teaching Certification, and was approved for the New England Conservatory's Teaching Artistry Concentration, where she will spend the next two years taking part in workshops, projects, pedagogy classes, and will write a thesis on her teaching philosophy.