Behind the Musician

Mc Kayla Talasek is a Specialist in violin and viola. She teaches private violin and viola lessons to all ages and experience levels and has been teaching group lessons, private lessons, and orchestral coaching for 10+ years. Teaching in San Antonio, TX, then Reno, NV, now back to her home town of St. Louis, Missouri, she continues to find ways to offer lessons to all students of different walks of life. Currently, she teaches at the Community Music School Webster University; Suzuki Harmony; Gateway Outreach Program; and her home studio. 

 

Ms. Talasek received her BA in Violin Performance at University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, along with an MM in Viola Performance at University of Nevada, Reno, graduating Magnum Cum Laude at both universities. She had the privilege to study with Yizhak Schotten, Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio, Dustin Budish, Jenny Jones, Gerald Schoelzel, and Richard Kilmer. 

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In masterclass settings, Mc Kayla performed with a chamber group for the Solera Quartet, Dover String Quartet, and Ariana Quartet, and Bravia Quartet. She also had opportunities to perform on solo violin and viola masterclasses for Bella Hristova, Jonathan Vinocour, Yizhak Schotten, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Cho-Liang Lin, Gilles Apap, and David Halen. 

Currently, she performs on viola with the Reno Philharmonic, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the Heartland Festival Orchestra, and the Missouri Symphony Orchestra. However, through out her career she's been honored to perform on violin and viola in the Reno Chamber Orchestra, Susanville Symphony, Flint Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Mid-Texas Symphony, Laredo Phil, Symphony of the Hills, Kingsville Symphony Orchestra, Corpus Christi Symphony, and the Victoria Symphony.  

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Summer Festivals attended include: Missouri Symphony Orchestra: Hot Summer Nights Music Festival, Bear Valley Music Festival, Montecito International Music Festival, Prague Summer Nights Music Festival, Mozart Festival, and the Fischoff Chamber Competition. 

When she is not teaching, performing, or practicing on her instruments, Mc Kayla loves walking her dog Hana Banana and her cat Peaches O'Malley, maintaining a consistent fitness regimen, attending concerts, and traveling to new places.