Welcome to Grow Music Missoula!
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.
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.
What We Offer
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.
With what started as an initiative of Grow Music, the "Missoula Crescendo Club" is now a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the musical journey of young musicians in our community. Each week, string clinicians visit the schools, helping students improve their instrument-playing skills while fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of music. Additionally, the Crescendo Club serves as a scholarship program that, through fundraising efforts, aims to eliminate financial barriers for youth who are crazy about music, providing them with access to music lessons and performance opportunities. Crescendo Club is partially supported by the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Partners in Music regranting initiative.
The Crescendo Club Mentorship Program allows advanced students to develop leadership and teaching skills by supporting our teaching artists, assisting in group classes, teaching individual lessons, attending monthly goal-setting meetings, and volunteering at community events. Participants gain practical experience, engage with the community, and earn a stipend and certificate hours while learning effective teaching techniques.
Our free community music series, "Crescendo Concerts," (formerly Grow Music Presents) is in partnership with the Missoula Public Library. The series fosters personal growth through student-centered performances and collaboration with professional artists. This music series functions as a fundraiser for the Crescendo Club. Additionally, Grow Music organizes two annual studio-wide recitals and actively pursues other engaging performance opportunities throughout the year. 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.
With what started as an initiative of Grow Music, the "Missoula Crescendo Club" is now a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the musical journey of young musicians in our community. Each week, string clinicians visit the schools, helping students improve their instrument-playing skills while fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of music. Additionally, the Crescendo Club serves as a scholarship program that, through fundraising efforts, aims to eliminate financial barriers for youth who are crazy about music, providing them with access to music lessons and performance opportunities. Crescendo Club is partially supported by the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Partners in Music regranting initiative.
The Crescendo Club Mentorship Program allows advanced students to develop leadership and teaching skills by supporting our teaching artists, assisting in group classes, teaching individual lessons, attending monthly goal-setting meetings, and volunteering at community events. Participants gain practical experience, engage with the community, and earn a stipend and certificate hours while learning effective teaching techniques.
Our free community music series, "Crescendo Concerts," (formerly Grow Music Presents) is in partnership with the Missoula Public Library. The series fosters personal growth through student-centered performances and collaboration with professional artists. This music series functions as a fundraiser for the Crescendo Club. Additionally, Grow Music organizes two annual studio-wide recitals and actively pursues other engaging performance opportunities throughout the year. 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. She 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. She 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.
Maren Elliott (Teaching Artist - Violin) is a student at the University of Montana and is currently pursuing a degree in violin performance. She has been playing the violin since she was five. Maren has performed with many ensembles throughout the state including the Missoula Symphony and the Helena Symphony. She is passionate about music and excited to share the joy of music with others. In her free time, Maren enjoys reading, crafting, and going for walks.
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.
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.