Coming from a musical family, Kathryn Appleby Ranger started her musical studies at an early age. By age thirteen, she had premiered sonatas written for her, soloed with symphony orchestras (Houston Symphony and Interlochen Arts Center Orchestra), and given solo recitals. Kathryn Ranger had the privilege of studying with the foremost teachers of the twentieth century: Dorothy DeLay, Josef Gingold, Ivan Galamian, Oscar Shumsky, and Sidney Harth. She has her undergraduate degree from Indiana University and Masters degree in chamber music from Sarah Lawrence College. She has also studied Suzuki pedagogy at the School for Strings in New York City and with William Starr.
Ms. Ranger has appeared in recital and as soloist with orchestras in north and South America and Europe. She was a member of the Pablo Casals Orchestra and was an active performer in New York City appearing regularly in Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Kathryn Ranger coached chamber music at the Aspen Music Festival for many years and has taught part time at the University of Victoria. She has been teaching violin for over thirty five years. A well respected teacher, she has been teaching in the Collegium program and was a member of the VCM faculty in the past. Her students have won concerto and Provincial competitions at all age levels as well as scholarships to outstanding string programs She is active as a clinician and adjudicator at festivals and competitions throughout Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Ms. Ranger lives in Victoria with her husband, Louis Ranger, who teaches trumpet at the University of Victoria. Their daughter Abby is a children’s book editor in New York City daughter Katelyn lives and works in Victoria. Her Border terrier, Guinness, likes to sing along occasionally with her violin and viola lessons, but the cat Theodore is not very impressed.