Kirby Dennis has been teaching violin and viola for over 15 years and it is her passion to help young people grow and learn. Kirby has taught at the St. Louis School of Music, co-founded West County Strings, and created a Suzuki in the Schools program at The Fulton School. Kirby is also a lower elementary Montessori violin teacher at The Fulton School as of 2023. Some of Kirby's favorite teaching opportunities include teaching at summer music institutes and festivals including, but not limited to, Colorado Suzuki Institute, Chicago Suzuki Institute, American Suzuki Institute, Midwest Chamber Music Workshop, Sprunger Violin Camp, and various other workshops throughout the country.
Upon graduation from the University of Illinois, Kirby pursued long-term and short-term Suzuki training and completed the Child Development Program at the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute.
Over the years, Kirby’s students held leadership positions in the STL Youth Orchestra, Missouri All-State Orchestra, and were featured soloists with local orchestras. Kirby has been a recurring featured soloist with the Town and Country, Kankakee Valley, and the St. Charles Symphonies. She remains an avid chamber and orchestral musician. Some of Kirby’s favorite moments as a child were in Suzuki group classes and her longest friendships have been formed through a love and commitment to music!