Welcome!
Grow Music offers both lessons and classes in violin, fiddle, viola, cello, and early childhood music.
We are home to the Cello Mafia, Viol Conspiracy, String Mafia, and the Nearly Spring Strings Festival. Our hub is in Missoula, MT but we serve learners worldwide!
Our mission statement:
Fostering connection, belonging, and personal growth through student-centered musical development.
Grow Music offers both lessons and classes in violin, fiddle, viola, cello, and early childhood music.
We are home to the Cello Mafia, Viol Conspiracy, String Mafia, and the Nearly Spring Strings Festival. Our hub is in Missoula, MT but we serve learners worldwide!
Our mission statement:
Fostering connection, belonging, and personal growth through student-centered musical development.
A note from Jessica, founder:
Music is my passion, my joy, my muse, and my solace. As an educator, it is my honor to share what I've learned and all that inspires me about music. I started Grow Music as a way to promote healthy, well-rounded, high-level musical development in my community. I enjoy teaching individual lessons as much as group classes, which is why we offer both! Individual lessons are excellent for refining technique, building support, trust, discipline, and lifelong mentorship. Group classes are fun, engaging, they build camaraderie, friendship, and teach ensemble skills essential to any musical path. The sheer joy of making music together promotes socialization, connection, community, and a wonderful sense of belonging. Music making is a natural outlet for creativity and self-expression. The practice of music supports a growth mindset, shapes identity, and fuels discipline and focus while also calming and aligning one's body and mind.
Welcome to Grow Music and thanks for stopping in!
Music is my passion, my joy, my muse, and my solace. As an educator, it is my honor to share what I've learned and all that inspires me about music. I started Grow Music as a way to promote healthy, well-rounded, high-level musical development in my community. I enjoy teaching individual lessons as much as group classes, which is why we offer both! Individual lessons are excellent for refining technique, building support, trust, discipline, and lifelong mentorship. Group classes are fun, engaging, they build camaraderie, friendship, and teach ensemble skills essential to any musical path. The sheer joy of making music together promotes socialization, connection, community, and a wonderful sense of belonging. Music making is a natural outlet for creativity and self-expression. The practice of music supports a growth mindset, shapes identity, and fuels discipline and focus while also calming and aligning one's body and mind.
Welcome to Grow Music and thanks for stopping in!
Grow Music Teaching Artists:
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Jessica Catron (Grow Music Founder) spent the first part of her professional life in Los Angeles where she worked as a freelance performing artist and educator. Some of her musical adventures include touring, performing, and/or recording with artists including Carla Bozulich (Geraldine Fibbers/Evangelista), Nels Cline (Wilco), Devotchka, The Eels, FUN, Trevor Hall, The Heavy, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Eleni Mandell, Dave Matthews, Tim Meyers (One Republic), Alexi Murdoch, Sheila Nicholls, Linda Ronstadt, Spiritualized, Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney), Steve Vai, the Vitamin String Quartet, VOCO, Wailin' Jennys, Scott Weiland, Emily Wells, The White Buffalo, and Wilco. Jessica has appeared on The Tonight Show, The Late Late Show, the NBC Music Video Awards, Coachella Music Festival, KPFK's Global Village, KUSC's Arts Alive, and has been a soloist for feature films Mean Creek, The Strangers, The Covenant, and Levity.
As a sound artist, Jessica was the first distinguished musical-artist-in-residence at the UCLA Hammer Museum (Los Angeles) for an 8-month residency where she created sound installations, experimental performances throughout the museum, created performance art inspired by the museum's collection of Ed Ruscha works, and curated weekly chamber music performances at the museum. She has also worked as a collaborator, performer, and/or music director with exceptional visual artists, composers, and performance artists such as Harold Budd, Vinny Golia, Mike Kelley, Pauline Oliveros, Stephen Prina, Susan Silton, and James Tenney. As a teaching artist, Jessica was the first cello mentor for YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) - an El Sistema-inspired partnership of the Harmony Project and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by Maestro Gustavo Dudamel. During her 8 years at YOLA, she worked regularly with four youth orchestras, string ensembles, conducted youth orchestras, lead fiddle and singing workshops, and had 32 weekly cello students in both group and private lessons. Her students have had the fortune of sitting beside LA Phil musicians in concert, backing up Stevie Wonder, Journey, and The Black Eyed Peas, performing with Grace Potter and Sharon Stone on the Tonight Show, playing chamber music for Condoleeza Rice, and traveling to the White House to play for Michelle Obama, Alisa Weilerstein, and Joshua Bell. Additionally, Jessica has lead music workshops at the University of Auckland (NZ), Universidad de Bogota (Columbia), Western Front (Vancouver, BC), University of Nebraska, Cornish College (Seattle), University of New Mexico, Lake Tahoe Unified Schools, Port Chester School District (NY), Community Music Works (RI), and the California State Summer School for the Arts. In Missoula, Jessica can be seen as a member of both the Missoula Symphony Orchestra and Glacier Symphony. In addition to her private teaching studio, she has subbed as a music teacher at Sussex School and for MCPS. Jessica co-founded The Receptionists string duo, founded and arranges music for the Cello Brigade, Cello Mafia, String Mafia and Viol Conspiracy, and writes music and sings with her avant-folk band Missincinatti. In the summer of 2018, she was chosen as Open Air's sound-artist-in-residence at the Rattlesnake Creek Dam, spending 6-weeks creating a place-based composition from field recordings made in and around the now demolished historic location. In 2021-22 she was one of four artists-in-residence for "New Songs for Butte Mining Camp" through the Montana Cultural Trust Grant and Silver Bow Archives in Butte, MT. Outside of music, Jessica is raising two amazing kids with her sweetie, Jeremy. They love family game nights, traveling whenever possible, snuggling, asking Google random factoids, making tacos, caring for five hens and two cats, sauntering in the woods, floating rivers, hiking, primitive camping, reading bedtime stories, spending time with their extended family, and giving group hugs. |
Anna Walter-Grussling 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 currently teaches Special Education at Bonner Elementary 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, as well as directing Viol Conspiracy and assisting with String Mafia.
Ariah Mann found a deep love for music from a very early age. At five years old, she began taking violin lessons and continued playing all throughout middle and high school. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, in Music Education and Violin Performance from Gonzaga University and is a candidate for a Master of Music degree in Violin Performance from the University of Montana. Ariah served as both principal second violin and then concertmaster for the Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra where she also had the opportunity to perform with world-renowned soloists such as Shlomo Mintz, Gary Karr, Lynn Harrell, Pascal Rogé, and Midori Goto. Ariah moved to Missoula, Montana, to take on a graduate teaching position in the University of Montana’s music department where she now teaches and studies under Dr. Margaret Baldridge, and currently serves as concertmaster for the UM Symphony Orchestra, principal second with the Butte Symphony, and as a section violinist with the Missoula Symphony. Music has always played a crucial role in Ariah’s life. It is her goal as an educator to share this joy and passion with all her students regardless of age, background, or skill-level. It is her belief that music speaks to us in a way that nothing else can, and through it we can find a deeper connection and understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
Bayley Ginnaty was born and raised in Great Falls, Montana. It was through the public school system where Ginnaty found the viola. Bayley studied with Jennifer Smith throughout high school and during her time at Charles M. Russell HS, Ginnaty participated in All-State Orchestra, All-Northwest Orchestra, and was a member of the Great Falls Youth Orchestra and Chamber Music Program. Currently, Bayley is a member of the University of Montana Symphony Orchestra, Missoula Symphony Orchestra, Tessitura Trio, and was a winner of UM’s 2021 Concerto/Aria Competition. Serving as the President of the UM Chapter of the American String Teachers Association, Ginnaty believes that studying music leads to not only skillful musicians, but well-rounded and team oriented individuals. She is currently pursuing a degree in Viola Performance under Dr. Margaret Baldridge. Outside of music, Bayley enjoys cooking, gardening, cross stitching, and moseying through farmers markets.
Bethany Joyce is a classically-trained cellist with a history of eclectic musical projects that emphasize her ardor for improvisation. While a music student at the University of Montana School of Fine Arts, she established herself as a member of both the Missoula and Helena Symphonies. Since graduating in 2008, she has continued to play both classically and non-traditionally; composing and performing music for film, dance, theater, and has recorded cello on over 30 studio albums. She has played with bands including Red Onion Purple, Wartime Blues, Stellarondo, Butter, and Maiah Wynne; shared the stage with the Portland Cello Project, and has performed opening sets for the Decemberists, the Devil Makes Three, Bill Callahan, and others. Bethany lives and teaches cello and music theory in Missoula.
Jayla Mitchell currently studies Cello Performance at the UM under Dr. Adam Collins. She began playing the cello at age 10 through Great Falls Public Schools, first starting her private studies with Elizabeth Quinby in 2015 and going on to study under Thaddeus Suits in 2019.Throughout high school, Jayla participated in multiple prestigious orchestras, including four years of Montana All-State Orchestra and one year of All-Northwest Orchestra. She was principal cellist of the Great Falls Youth Orchestra, and worked for a year in the Great Falls Symphony. She is currently a member of the UM Symphony Orchestra, the Tessitura Trio, Missoula Symphony, and sits on the executive board of UM’s ASTA (American String Teachers Association) chapter. Outside of performance, Jayla enjoys baking, crocheting, and spending time with Miso, the house cat.
Laura Geier is a violinist, pianist, and music educator. Having developed a passion for Romani (Gypsy) and Balkan music, she lived in Plovdiv, Bulgaria for a year supported by the prestigious Fulbright Grant, and subsequently traveled to Romania, Moldova, Turkey, and Sweden to pursue further studies. Her unique approach to teaching encompasses all styles - Eastern European folk, Romani (Gypsy), traditional classical, and jazz. An MFA recipient of the California Institute of the Arts, Laura studied Balkan music, Alexander Technique, Bulgarian folk singing, jazz improvisation, music transcription, and violin. Prior to CalArts, Laura also received a Masters in Music at Ohio University and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University.
Lydia Garrick is a cellist born and raised in Missoula. She has been playing cello since she fell in love with the instrument in fifth grade. She has had the privilege of playing as first chair in both middle school and high school ensembles including Southside Symphony and Missoula Youth Symphony, and most recently as Principal Cellist of the MT All-State Orchestra. She is currently attending the University of Montana, majoring in pre-pharmacy and minoring in music. She has studied with Jessica for seven years and has enjoyed the musical and personal development opportunities Grow Music Missoula has provided her. In her spare time Lydia enjoys hiking, drawing, and recently, taking advantage of the climbing gym at UM!
Marian Kale has been playing the violin ever since the instrument caught her ear on the radio when she was three years old. A native of Billings, MT, she began her studies with Kathy Griffin and later continued with Mary LaMonaca. Now a pupil of Dr. Margaret Baldridge at the University of Montana, Marian is pursuing degrees in both music education and violin performance. She has extensively studied string pedagogy and has also taken classes in piano, voice, brass, and woodwinds, allowing for versatile instructional methods. Marian has served as a teaching assistant at the UM Summer Music Camp, the Griffin Violin Camp, and the Montana Music Institute, establishing her presence as a young educator who values an empathetic and supportive approach to teaching. Marian is a decorated performer who has been a member of the All Northwest and Montana All State orchestras and has twice won the Montana MTNA solo competition. Currently, she performs with the UM Symphony Orchestra, Missoula Symphony Orchestra, and the Tessitura Trio. In her spare time, Marian enjoys reading, hiking, and baking, and has recently taken up bullet journaling and quilting.
Melinda Rice is a violinist, violist, and music educator. She approaches music learning as a joyous process that can lead to commitment and discovery in many areas of one's life. Born in Pennsylvania to a music teacher, Melinda began violin at a young age. Music has taken her to England, France, and the Netherlands as an orchestra performer, she has studied at the Suzuki camp in Japan and has full Suzuki certification, is certified in the Mark O'Connor method, and began writing music and acting with a Conflict Resolution theatre troupe in Philadelphia. Since receiving her Masters in Violin Performance from California Institute of the Arts, she has both conducted and taught as an LA Philharmonic Teaching Artist with Youth Orchestra Los Angeles. Melinda loves to see students take both joy and ownership of their musical journey.
