Kat Dillon has been a professional violinist, singer, and stage performer for over 20 years in a broad variety of musical arenas. Shestarted learning violin at the age of 12 and later studied classical violin under famed violinist Mischa Lefkowitz. Her first professional work was as a violinist in Tehachapi, CA Symphony Orchestra at the age of 16. Through high school, she performed simultaneously as a member of both Bakersfield CA Symphony Orchestra and Antelope College SymphonyOrchestra.
During her college career, she performed classical violin as a member of Washington State University Orchestra (go Cougars!) and later with West Chester University Orchestra in Pennsylvania.
After college, she turned to power-rock style music and joined the Trans-Siberian Orchestra-inspired group Wizards of Winter as lead violinist. She toured with the band for 3 seasons from Maine to Maryland playing the entire Trans-Siberian Orchestra catalogue as well as a variety of original material.
She transitioned her style in 2012 to Irish fiddle and joined the Trad-Celtic group Burning Bridget Cleary. Kat toured with the band across the entire north-eastern seaboard performing both traditional Celtic as well as bluegrass style fiddle. As both a violinist and vocalist, she is credited for her performance on the band’s popular studio album, ‘Pressed ForTime.’
In 2013, Kat fronted her own namesake band, Kat and the MadDogz. The wildly popular Pennsylvania-based rock/country cover group performed over 100 shows per year and specialized in hits spanning the 1970’s to 2000’s. During this time, Kat perfected her signature “back bend” move, defying gravity while performing the fiddle solo to ‘Devil Went Down To Georgia.’
By 2016, Kat discovered her love of neon and became the lead singer of M80, one of the top 80’s rock bands in Pennsylvania. With M80, Kat sang and played electric violin in venues ranging from Musik Fest to Atlantic City.
2 years later, Kat was selected as lead singer of The Reflex, the Washington D.C. area’s top 80’s cover band where she continues to this day, travelling regularly from her home in Florida to perform on the weekends. The band has been voted DC’s best cover band by Washington City Paper and was the headlining act at the MGM Grand in National Harbor for New Year’s Eve in 2019. There, Kat performed a duet of the hit 80’s song ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ side by side with the song’s original artist, Tiffany.
In addition to her full-time work with The Reflex, Kat is a regular guest-performer on both electric violin and vocals with Tampa-based band No Filter. Her collaboration centers on her unique rock-violin style and vocals, performing a range of energetic popular hits at venues such as Sloppy Joe’s in Key West and the top venues in Tampa, Sarasota, and Orlando.
Kat applies her wide range of musical experience to personally tailor lesson plans that best fit each student’s taste and style. She believes that students best learn when playing the music they love the most and adapts each of her lessons to provide the most fun, optimal learning experience.
