Looking for an activity that builds confidence and keeps your child engaged?
Welcome to Grow Music Missoula!
Grow Music classes are joyful, hands-on, and designed to help kids succeed—whether they’re brand new or already playing.
At Grow Music Missoula, kids don’t just learn music—they grow through it. Our classes combine creativity, structure, and play to help young musicians build real skills while having a great time. Our experienced, friendly teaching artists meet each learner where they are and equip them with the tools they need to thrive and flourish.
Welcome to Grow Music Missoula!
Grow Music classes are joyful, hands-on, and designed to help kids succeed—whether they’re brand new or already playing.
At Grow Music Missoula, kids don’t just learn music—they grow through it. Our classes combine creativity, structure, and play to help young musicians build real skills while having a great time. Our experienced, friendly teaching artists meet each learner where they are and equip them with the tools they need to thrive and flourish.
Mission
Our mission is to foster personal growth and belonging through youth-centered music education.
Culture
We empower young people through music, nurturing a welcoming community where individuals can learn, create, and perform. We celebrate differences, encourage collaboration and shared experiences.
Vision
We envision a future where music education is universally accessible, fostering self-worth and community values.
Our mission is to foster personal growth and belonging through youth-centered music education.
Culture
We empower young people through music, nurturing a welcoming community where individuals can learn, create, and perform. We celebrate differences, encourage collaboration and shared experiences.
Vision
We envision a future where music education is universally accessible, fostering self-worth and community values.
About Us
Grow Music, established in 2014, has been cultivating musical growth through both individual lessons and group classes in violin, viola, cello, and early childhood music. Our classes are tailored to accommodate the pace of each learner, ensuring that both beginners and advanced students thrive.
We often work in tandem with the Missoula Crescendo Club, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to high-quality music education for all youth. Grow Music presents two annual studio-wide recitals and other engaging performance opportunities for our students throughout the year. And our community music series, "Crescendo Concerts," fosters personal growth through student-centered performances and collaboration with professional artists. Our events are always free for the public to enjoy.
Grow Music, established in 2014, has been cultivating musical growth through both individual lessons and group classes in violin, viola, cello, and early childhood music. Our classes are tailored to accommodate the pace of each learner, ensuring that both beginners and advanced students thrive.
We often work in tandem with the Missoula Crescendo Club, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to high-quality music education for all youth. Grow Music presents two annual studio-wide recitals and other engaging performance opportunities for our students throughout the year. And our community music series, "Crescendo Concerts," fosters personal growth through student-centered performances and collaboration with professional artists. Our events are always free for the public to enjoy.
Grow Music Teaching Artists:
Jessica Catron (Founder/Director/Lead Teaching Artist) spent the first part of her professional life in Los Angeles where she worked as a freelance cellist and educator. Her musical adventures have included touring, performing, and/or recording with artists including Carla Bozulich, Nels Cline, Devotchka, The Eels, FUN, Trevor Hall, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Dave Matthews, Sheila Nicholls, Linda Ronstadt, Spiritualized, Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney), Steve Vai, Vitamin String Quartet, Portland Cello Project, VOCO, Wailin' Jennys, Scott Weiland, and Wilco. Jessica has appeared on The Tonight Show, The Late Late Show, NBC Music Video Awards, Coachella Music Festival, and has been a soloist for feature films Mean Creek, The Strangers, The Covenant, and Levity. As a sound artist, Jessica was an Artist-in-Residence at the UCLA Hammer Museum creating sound installations and performances inspired by the museum's collection of Ed Ruscha works. She has worked as a collaborator with notable visual artists, composers, and performance artists such as Harold Budd, Mike Kelley, Pauline Oliveros, Stephen Prina, Susan Silton, and James Tenney. Jessica is fortunate to have studied with Joanna de Keyser, Eugene Friesen, Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth Benusis, Joan Jenrenaud, Rushad Eggelston, and Natalie Haas.
As an educator, Jessica was the Lead Teaching Artist of Cello for YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles), a partnership of the Harmony Project and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Her students have had the fortune of sitting beside LA Phil musicians, backing up Stevie Wonder, Journey, The Black Eyed Peas, performing on the Tonight Show, playing the Super Bowl Half-time Show with Beyonce, Coldplay, and Bruno Mars, and traveling to the White House to play for Michelle Obama, Alisa Weilerstein, and Joshua Bell. Jessica has lead workshops at the University of Auckland (NZ), Universidad de Bogota (Columbia), Western Front (Vancouver, BC), University of Nebraska - Omaha, Cornish College, University of New Mexico, Lake Tahoe Unified, Port Chester (NY), Community Music Works (RI), and the California State Summer School for the Arts.
In Missoula, Jessica is the Founding Executive Director of Missoula Crescendo Club, Founding Co-Director of The Receptionists string ensemble, and a member of the String Orchestra of the Rockies. As a creative, she has participated in Open Air's Artist Residency and "New Songs for Butte Mining Camp," funded through the MT Cultural Trust. Outside of music, Jessica and her sweetie, Jeremy, are raising two amazing youngsters. Together, they enjoy family game nights, sauntering the woods, attending primitive skills gatherings, doing diy house renovations, finding reuse in everything, composting, spoiling 2 cats and 6 hens, and giving group hugs. Photo: KC Lostetter
As an educator, Jessica was the Lead Teaching Artist of Cello for YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles), a partnership of the Harmony Project and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Her students have had the fortune of sitting beside LA Phil musicians, backing up Stevie Wonder, Journey, The Black Eyed Peas, performing on the Tonight Show, playing the Super Bowl Half-time Show with Beyonce, Coldplay, and Bruno Mars, and traveling to the White House to play for Michelle Obama, Alisa Weilerstein, and Joshua Bell. Jessica has lead workshops at the University of Auckland (NZ), Universidad de Bogota (Columbia), Western Front (Vancouver, BC), University of Nebraska - Omaha, Cornish College, University of New Mexico, Lake Tahoe Unified, Port Chester (NY), Community Music Works (RI), and the California State Summer School for the Arts.
In Missoula, Jessica is the Founding Executive Director of Missoula Crescendo Club, Founding Co-Director of The Receptionists string ensemble, and a member of the String Orchestra of the Rockies. As a creative, she has participated in Open Air's Artist Residency and "New Songs for Butte Mining Camp," funded through the MT Cultural Trust. Outside of music, Jessica and her sweetie, Jeremy, are raising two amazing youngsters. Together, they enjoy family game nights, sauntering the woods, attending primitive skills gatherings, doing diy house renovations, finding reuse in everything, composting, spoiling 2 cats and 6 hens, and giving group hugs. Photo: KC Lostetter
Anna Walter-Grussling (Education Manager/Lead Teaching Artist) has been studying the violin and piano since she was 5 years old. She continued with her violin studies at the University of Montana under Margaret Baldridge, and graduated with a degree in Elementary and Special Education. She has been an active substitute in the Missoula Symphony since her junior year in High School. Anna was a participant in the Suzuki Institute for 13 consecutive years and has studied under Missoula violin teachers Heidi Martin, Beth Youngblood, Madeleine McKelvey, and Molly Morrison on piano. She currently has a home violin studio with students ages 5 to 15.
In addition to music, Anna is a Special Education Specialist and Consultant and works as a dance instructor with the Carroll-Henderson School of Irish Dance. Anna strives to make learning fun, while also maintaining an atmosphere that facilitates learning and reaching goals. Anna is Grow Music's lead teacher for all things violin. She currently runs all group fiddle classes, as well as directing Viol Conspiracy and assisting with String Mafia.
In addition to music, Anna is a Special Education Specialist and Consultant and works as a dance instructor with the Carroll-Henderson School of Irish Dance. Anna strives to make learning fun, while also maintaining an atmosphere that facilitates learning and reaching goals. Anna is Grow Music's lead teacher for all things violin. She currently runs all group fiddle classes, as well as directing Viol Conspiracy and assisting with String Mafia.
Additional Teaching Artists:
Hayley Bouchard (Teaching Artist - Cello) is a third year music education and cello performance major at the University of Montana. She has participated in groups like the UM Symphony Orchestra, the Missoula Symphony, String Orchestra of the Rockies, and plays in her string quartet, the Heart Strings. Along with school and teaching through Grow Music, she works as a teacher for ASUM Child Care. In her free time, she enjoys getting outside, doing crafts, and spending time with family and friends.
Marian Kale (Teaching Artist - Violin) has been playing the violin since the instrument caught her ear on the radio at age 3. A graduate of the University of Montana with degrees in Music Education and Violin Performance, she is an active educator and performer in the Montana community. Marian performs regularly with Montana’s symphony orchestras and chamber groups, and teaches the orchestra at Helena Middle School. She currently serves as the Operations Manager for the Montana Youth Symphony and is pursuing a Master’s of Music Education through Boston University. When she is not teaching or performing, Marian enjoys reading, spending time with family, and doing spin cycle classes.
Neveah Killsnight (Teaching Artist - Viola) is currently studying viola performance at the University of Montana in Missoula. She has been playing viola for 9 years. In her career, she has performed with ensembles throughout Montana and the Northwest region, including the Billings Symphony and Missoula Symphony. She is an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe and is currently honored as "Miss Northern Cheyenne," serving as a goodwill ambassador and representative of the Northern Cheyenne Nation. She engages with communities across the region, promoting cultural awareness, preserving traditions, and enhancing the visibility of Indigenous people. In her free time, she enjoys beading, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.
Bayley Ginnaty Mickolio (Teaching Artist - Viola) was born and raised in Great Falls, Montana. It was through the public school system where Mickolio found the viola and fell in love. Bayley received a Bachelors degree in Viola Performance from the University of Montana, studying with Dr. Margaret Baldridge. She then completed her graduate studies at the Eastman School of Music, in Rochester, NY, where she graduated with a Masters of Music in Viola Performance and Literature, under the tutelage of George Taylor, and a Masters of Music in Music Education. Mickolio began her teaching career in 2021 with Grow Music Missoula and quickly found her passion in private instruction. While living in New York, Bayley was a teaching artist at Fret & Bow Music Academy where she taught both private viola and violin lessons. Outside of music, Bayley enjoys cooking, gardening, cross stitching, and moseying through farmers markets.
Jayla Mitchell (Teaching Artist - Cello) is a versatile performer whose work spans popular and classical music. Her latest appearances include Azure Larkwood’s album The Reason We Fall and Matthew Jones’ single “Save Me.” She has recently performed in the pit orchestra of Matilda (MCT) and She Loves Me (UM). As a classical musician, Jayla won UM's Concerto-Aria Competition and the Young Artist division of Montana’s MTNA competition. She has also been a finalist in the MT Association of Symphony Orchestras competition and performed Haydn’s Cello Concerto as a soloist with the Great Falls Symphony. Jayla is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee where she studies with Professor Patrice Jackson. She completed her undergraduate studies with Dr. Adam Collins at UM where she earned the Presser Foundation Award and Cook Family Scholarship.
Kamara Wilbur (Teaching Artist - Violin) is a student at the University of Montana and is currently pursuing a degree in violin performance with a minor in Phycology. Kamara grew up in Bozeman, MT where she founded “Kamara & Friends,” gathering like-minded musicians to share a variety of music with the community. The group focuses on giving performances in rural areas and for populations throughout Montana that are underserved by the creative arts.