Katie Burns is a cellist, educator, and collaborator with a passion for unique and meaningful musical experiences grounded in humanity. 

 

Growing up outside of Chicago, IL, Katie started piano lessons at age 5, and then chose to learn the cello in her school orchestra at age 9. As a young cellist, Katie studied with pedagogue Sally Gross at the Western Springs School for Talent Education, who served as a major influence for her to pursue Suzuki training. Katie received a Bachelor of Music from Butler University where she was a student of Dr. William Grubb, and a Master of Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Denver where she was a graduate assistant for Carol Tarr and Matthew Zalkind. As a freelance cellist and collaborator, Katie has performed across the United States and Europe at venues such as Ball Arena, Buell Theatre, and Red Rocks Amphitheater. Katie has served as Principal Cellist of the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra, co-founded guitar/cello duo Solazur, and has played for various musicals, ballets, operas, film recordings, and season concerts since 2003. Outside the realm of classical music, Katie also frequently collaborates as a guest artist and studio musician in genres ranging from Americana and Celtic to Rock and Jazz. In 2024, Katie was featured on the soundtrack of the short film, Come Out, Wherever You Are. 

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Katie currently runs an active private cello studio in Denver, CO, serves as String Pedagogy Specialist and Teaching Artist for El Sistema Colorado, and is on faculty with Lamont Suzuki Strings. Through these organizations, Katie's vision is to develop beautiful hearts and enrich the lives of young people and their families through high quality and equitable cello instruction and music education. She has featured El Sistema Colorado's work with early childhood learners as a presenter at the ESUSA Symposium, and and continues to play an integral role in program-wide curriculum development for El Sistema Colorado.​​

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