Viola Instructor at Colorado College · Violist with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic · Former Principal Violist · Longtime Member of the Veronika String Quartet
Katya Dobrotvorskaia is a professional violist and educator whose career has combined orchestral performance, chamber music and teaching for more than three decades.
Born in Russia into a family of musicians, Katya began studying violin at the age of five. At ten, she was accepted to the Central Music School for musically gifted children at the Moscow State Conservatory, one of Russia’s leading institutions for the training of young professional musicians.
She continued her studies at the Moscow State Conservatory, where she received advanced training in solo performance, chamber music, orchestral playing and music pedagogy, earning her Master of Music in Performance in 1998.
Before moving to the United States, Katya developed an extensive professional career in Moscow.
She served as Principal Violist with several professional ensembles, including:
Amadeus Chamber Orchestra
Moscovia Chamber Orchestra
Russian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra
She was also a member of the Tempera String Quartet, developing the chamber-music experience that would remain an important part of her professional life.
Katya’s musical background combines the technical discipline of the Russian conservatory tradition with decades of practical experience as a professional orchestral and chamber musician.
In 2000, Katya joined the Veronika String Quartet as violist.
She remained a member of the ensemble for more than two decades, performing extensively in the United States and internationally.
The quartet became an important part of Colorado’s classical-music community and performed a broad repertoire ranging from the great classical and romantic string quartets to contemporary chamber music.
For Katya, chamber music has always been more than performance. It is also an important part of how she teaches students to listen, communicate musically, understand their role within an ensemble and develop an independent musical voice.
Katya Dobrotvorskaia — Viola
Veronika String Quartet, 2000–2022
Moscow State Conservatory
Master of Music in Performance
Central Music School at the Moscow State Conservatory
Professional training from childhood
Advanced studies in:
Violin and viola technique
Solo performance
Chamber music
Orchestral performance
Music interpretation
Music pedagogy
Viola Instructor — Colorado College
Katya currently teaches viola at Colorado College, working with students on technique, repertoire, interpretation and musical development.
Violist — Colorado Springs Philharmonic
Katya is an active performing member of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic and has performed with the orchestra since 2007.
Her continued work as a professional performer allows her students to learn from someone who remains actively involved in orchestral and chamber music at a professional level.
Principal Violist — Pueblo Symphony Orchestra
Artist-in-Residence — Colorado State University–Pueblo
Principal Violist — Amadeus Chamber Orchestra
Principal Violist — Moscovia Chamber Orchestra
Principal Violist — Russian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra
Violist — Veronika String Quartet
Member — Tempera String Quartet
Katya has also worked with young musicians through chamber-music coaching, orchestral sectionals and youth music programs.