About

Kat Dillon has been a professional violinist, singer, and stage performer for over 20 years in a broad variety of musical arenas.  She started 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  Symphony Orchestra. 

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 For Time.’ 

In  2013, Kat fronted her own namesake band, Kat and the Mad Dogz. 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  MusikFest 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. 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. 

 In the winter of 2020, Kat joined forces with The American Rogues, a Celtic Rock group based out of Maryland and Canada. They recently performed for the Annual Navy SEAL's Muster in Ft. Pierce, FL and are scheduled to perform in Scotland and Quebec, among other locations. Kat plays the violin and sings a few tunes as well! 

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.