Kathleen Candy Colbert

Kathleen Candy Colbert is a Composer, Arranger, Educator, Professional Violinist and Violist. She lived in rural areas as a child and learned to sing and play Piano, Ukulele and Guitar by ear. She is a multi-instrumentalist and also plays Double Bass, Alto Saxophone, Mandolin, Trumpet, Trombone, and Percussion. Kathleen gained scholarships to study as a violinist in Schola Musica NZSO 1980-1982 before joining the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra 1983-1987 and playing as a contract player in the NZSO. Kathleen has led various orchestral ensembles including Opus Orchestra, Hawkes Bay Opera and Regional Orchestra, the Lakes District String Ensemble, and the Great Lakes Symphony Orchestra. Since 2016 Kathleen has played in the Auckland Choral Pipers Sinfonia, the Wairua Sinfonietta, and in the Manukau Symphony Orchestra on Violin and Viola.

Kathleen has a Bachelor of Arts in Education and Music, a FTCL in Violin Performance and LTCL/ATCL in Violin Performance and Advanced Theory. With a strong interest in education, music, and motivating others, she gained her Graduate Teaching Diploma and pursued HOD Music positions at secondary schools, a Music Lecturer position in a Performing Arts Diploma (Voice) at Eastern Institute of Technology, then as an Itinerant Music Teacher and Composer and Arranger, Composing artist in residence and Private String Teacher (AIRMT), and more recently as a professional player mentor and composer.

Kathleen is passionate about writing music for musicians of all abilities on a wide range of instruments and voice. Her writing is influenced by classical, folk, celtic, jazz, film music, rock, reggae, dance genres and music from other cultures. She is inspired by natural landscapes, flora and fauna and historical events. A prolific writer, Kathleen has written over 100 compositions ranging from Light Jazz Piano Solos to duos on most instruments, quartets and larger ensembles works. Kathleen is an advocate for the Viola and has had success writing solos that have gained recognition and have been performed publicly by professional violists.