Kathryn Swanson

Education

DMA, The Hartt School, University of Hartford

MM, The Hartt School, University of Hartford

BA, Azusa Pacific University

Dr. Kathryn Swanson-Ellis is an active Hartford area composer who has contributed works to several of the region’s new music festivals. Kathryn began working in the Hollywood music industry as a music copyist, arranger, technical assistant, and orchestrator on several cable released movies, as well as TV series including Cartoon Network’s, Samurai Jack and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Since moving to Hartford, she has been able to collaborate with a number of the local artists in the spheres of both theater and dance having composed music for a Midsummer Night’s Dream, and several collaborations with Full Force Dance Theatre, among others. In 2013 Kathryn completed The River, a collaborative, multimedia, and interdisciplinary work commissioned by the Windsor Arts Council.

Kathryn earned her BA in Music Theory/Composition from Azusa Pacific University, and her MM and DMA in Composition (with a Theory minor) from The Hartt School. In 1999, she began teaching ear training, music theory, and electronic music courses. In 2003, she earned her Kodaly Certification from Nebraska Wesleyan University. At the Hartt School, she is currently teaching first and second semester Elementary Ear Training.