Kathryn (Kat) Malaktaris grew up in North Dakota and started taking formal piano lessons at the age of 6. As she continued to hone her skills on the piano, Kathryn found a new love for percussion once school band started in 6th Grade. She continued her studies in both classical and jazz piano and percussion all the way through graduation from Minnesota State University Moorhead, where she received a BA in Jazz Studies and a Minor in Audio Production in 2017.
Kathryn moved to the Twin Cities that same summer and starting interning at Blue Tree. Shortly after, she was hired as a teacher and is now has over 35 amazing piano and percussion students! Kathryn enjoys performing and teaching various styles of music such as jazz, classical, R&B and pop and is fluent on drum set, piano and most percussion instruments.
A couple of Kathryn’s career highlights so far have been arranging and performing music for the MSUM Day of Percussion, which featured one of her favorite drummers, Larnell Lewis, member of Grammy-winning band “Snarky Puppy”, and briefly studying steel pan in the place where they originated, Trinidad and Tobago. She is now beginning to work her way into the Twin Cities music scene and explore writing/performing originals and collaborating with other local artists.
After having the opportunity to study and work closely with numerous great teachers and mentors over the course of many years, Kathryn is eager to share all the knowledge that has been passed on to her as well as inspire students with her love and passion for music!
Kat teaches on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays and has slots available now!