About Grow Music

Welcome to Grow Music Missoula!

Mission
Our mission is to foster personal growth and belonging through youth-centered music education.

Culture
We empower lives through music, nurturing a welcoming community where individuals can learn, create, and perform. We celebrate differences, encourage collaboration, and remove barriers so all can share the joy of music.

Vision
We envision a world where personalized music education is accessible to all, and both youth and professional artists are empowered to create, inspire, and enrich communities through shared musical experiences.

What We Offer
Grow Music, established in 2015, 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.

Partially supported by the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Partners in Music, the "Crescendo Club" is our youngest initiative, dedicated to enhancing the musical journey of 5th and 6th grade orchestra students in our public schools. 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 our fundraising efforts, aims to eliminate financial barriers for recommended youth, providing them with the opportunity to participate in personalized music lessons.

The Grow Music Mentorship Program allows advanced students to develop leadership and teaching skills by supporting our teaching artists, assisting in group classes, attending monthly goal-setting meetings, and volunteering at community events. Participants gain practical experience, engage with the community, and earn certificate hours while learning effective teaching techniques.

Our live community music series, "Grow Music Presents," in partnership with the Missoula Public Library, fosters personal growth through student-centered performances and collaboration with professional artists. Additionally, we organize two annual studio-wide recitals and actively pursue other engaging performance opportunities throughout the year. Grow Music 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 the first Sound-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 visual artists, composers, and performance artists such as Harold Budd, Vinny Golia, 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, Natalie Haas, and Rushad Eggelston.

As an educator, Jessica was the first 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 with Grace Potter and Sharon Stone 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. Additionally, Jessica has lead music 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 can be seen as a member of the String Orchestra of the Rockies, she's co-founder of The Receptionists string ensemble, and occasionally performs with her avant-folk band Missincinatti. She's participated in Open Air's Artist Residency, and in 2021-22 she was a Sound-Artist-In-Residence for "New Songs for Butte Mining Camp" funded through the Montana Cultural Trust Grant. Outside of music, Jessica is raising two amazing young people with her sweetie, Jeremy. They enjoy family game nights, making tacos, caring for hens and cats, sauntering the woods, floating rivers, primitive skill-building, reading bedtime stories, spending time with extended family, 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.

Additional Teaching Artists:

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.

Born in Missoula, Lydia Garrick (Teaching Artist - Cello) has been playing cello for over ten years. She is currently majoring in biochemistry with a minor in music at the University of Montana. Her first cello teacher was Jessica Catron until the transition to college, where she currently studies under Dr. Adam Collins. She has played in pit orchestras for over ten musical productions in the community and was selected for the Montana Youth Symphony in 2024. Between her frequent jaunts between the music and chemistry buildings, Lydia enjoys listening to audiobooks, hiking, knitting, or doing taekwondo. Photo: Lido Vizzutti

A Detroit native, Angelica Kalasz (Teaching Artist - Cello) is settling in to the Missoula area. With 13 years teaching experience, Angelica is currently teaching orchestra at Big Sky High School, along with Franklin and Hawthorne Elementary Schools. She previously taught and performed in the Washington DC area. Angelica received her undergraduate degree in music education from Western Michigan University and a Masters Certificate from the University of Denver in Arts Management. She currently performs with the Missoula Symphony and her band, The Queens and Mr. G. When Angelica isn't playing cello she loves spending time outside with her friends and beautiful growing family!

Marian Kale (Teaching Artist - Violin) 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 and a recent graduate of the University of Montana with a bachelor's degree in music education, she is an active performer and educator in the community, serving Missoula County Public Schools, the University of Montana’s Summer Music Camps, and the Ironhorse Consortium for Young Musicians. Marian performs regularly with the Missoula Symphony and the Tessitura Trio, and is passionate about working with local nonprofits and community organizations to increase equitable access to music education. In her spare time, Marian enjoys reading and hiking, and has recently taken up bullet-journaling and quilting.

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 graduated from Billings Senior High in 2023. In her free time, she enjoys beading, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.

Grow Music Mentorship Program:

With partial support from the LA Phil's "Partners in Music" regranting initiative, Grow Music has a mentorship program!
Mentorship participants collaborate with lead teaching artists in group classes, assist with performances and our concert series, and gain insights into best teaching practices. They engage in monthly meet-ups to share successes, discuss challenges, set goals, ask questions, and provide valuable youth perspectives to enrich our programming.

2024-25 Mentors:

Hi! I’m Matt Auge, I’m 17 years old and I go to Sentinel High School. I primarily play viola and participate in many different music festivals and programs. My most prized experience was playing in the 2024 YOLA National Festival over the summer. In my free time I enjoy doing anything outside.

Hi! My name is Hayley Bouchard and I am a 2nd year music education and cello performance major at the University of Montana. I am originally from Great Falls and I've been playing cello for 10 years. Along with cello, I play bass drum in the Grizzly Marching Band and enjoy learning all kinds of instruments at the U (my favorites being piano and clarinet). Besides music, I work two jobs: Ciao Mambo and ASUM Childcare on campus. In my free time I enjoy crafting, going on adventures with friends, and getting outdoors!

My name is Noah Everett and my main instrument is the cello. I am in my first year at UM. Some of my other hobbies include messing around on piano, baking, speech and debate, and I love theater and singing. I have enjoyed this mentor experience more than I ever thought I could and I am so glad that I could bring love of performance to a whole new, awesome group of kids.

Hi, I’m Scout McCreedy. I’m a freshman at Hellgate High School. I’ve been playing cello for four years now. I’m a part of the Missoula Youth Symphony and have been playing in Grow Music groups since I was in sixth grade!

Hi! I’m Ayva Ranstrom! I am 16 years old and am a junior at Sentinel High School! I’ve been playing viola for about 7 years! I am also in Missoula Youth Symphony! I have been a coach with Missoula Figuring Skating Club for 4 years and a camp counselor for the Missoula String Camp!

My name is Adelaide Terwilliger. I am a sophomore at Hellgate High School and have been playing the cello for 8 years. I really enjoy playing the cello and connecting with people through music. I played with Missoula Youth Symphony and All-State Orchestra last year and will get to do that again this year. I attended the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA) National Festival in 2023, which was a really cool experience. I run cross country, nordic ski with the Ice Badgers, and play tennis! I also love to read books and go on outdoor adventures with friends and family in my free time.