Kate Hamilton, violist, began her career as the youngest member of the faculty at the renowned Baylor University School of Music in Texas after graduate studies with Karen Tuttle at the Peabody Conservatory. Subsequent appointments include Artist-in-Residence and violist of the Esterhazy String Quartet based at the University of Missouri and Associate Professor of Viola at Illinois State University. Ms. Hamilton was recipient of the 2002 Faculty Research Award from Illinois State University.

Her solo and chamber music performances have taken her to the 2001 International Viola Congress (New Zealand), the Mozarteum (Argentina), Esterhazy Palace (Austria), Teatro Belem (Brazil), and the Texas Music Festival. Masterclass presentations have included the Christchurch School of Music (New Zealand), New Zealand School of Music, Carlos Gomez Conservatory (Brazil), Arizona State University, Bowling Green State University, and Middlesex University (England). Her playing has been described as a “rich viola sound…characterized by perfect taste and precision in balance with wonderful expressive freedom” Peoria (USA) Times. Her playing can also be heard on a Fox News (USA) report featuring the Philadelphia based viola luthier Hirochi Iizuka.

Her commitment to perform and record new and lesser–known works for viola can be heard on Vienna Modern Masters, Pacific Records and Summit Records (2009). From 2006-2008, she presented chamber music recitals and master classes throughout New Zealand while a guest tutor at the University of Otago. She also served as Vice-President of the String Teachers Association of New Zealand (STANZA).

Currently, she is the Associate Professor of viola at Concordia College of Music. A sought after teacher, her students enjoy careers as university teachers and symphony players, as well as competition winners.