About

Kiersten began her violin studies as a young child in Alberta, Canada when she begged her parents for violin lessons. She continued her music studies when her family moved to Sacramento, California when she was 8, where she was given many opportunities to perform and teach. She began teaching private violin lessons as a teenager, which ignited her love of teaching. Studying both violin and viola, she earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and a teaching credential from Brigham Young University-Idaho. She taught elementary and middle school band and orchestra in Idaho Falls, Idaho before moving back to California where she taught elementary instrumental music in Arcadia. She has held music education positions throughout San Diego county, including middle and high school string coaching, elementary music classes and teaching for East County Youth Symphony.

Always anxious to learn, Kiersten has attended many workshops to improve her teaching skills. Inspired to learn more, Kiersten returned to graduate school studying violin performance, and earned a master’s degree in music from San Diego State University.

Kiersten currently teaches for the Community Music School at SDSU and is the string coach at Monte Vista High School. She can be found playing violin or viola in and around San Diego in pit orchestras, church orchestras, and baroque groups.