About me

Dr. Kristin Herkstroeter has over 30 years of experience teaching strings at all levels in private studio and public and private school settings. She received her B.M.E. from Baldwin-Wallace University, a M.M. in violin performance from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and a Ph.D. in Music Education from Florida State University.  Her violin/viola teachers include David Brickman, Eliot Chapo, Gary Kosloski, Kurt Sassmannshaus, Oliver Steiner, and Zwi Zeitlin.  Orchestras Dr. Herkstroeter has performed professionally with include the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, Channel Island Chamber Orchestra, Syracuse Symphony and Tallahassee Symphony  

For over 30 years Dr. Herkstroeter has maintained an active violin/viola studio. Her private violin and viola students participate in yearly recitals, ASTACAP and Suzuki Institutes.  She is a trained Suzuki teacher and an active member of the American String Teachers Association and the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Many of her students have gone on to become professional musicians, music educators or continue to play as they pursue other passions. 

Since 2001, Dr. Herkstroeter has been the Music Department Chair and Strings teacher at Viewpoint School in Calabasas. She founded the Viewpoint School Suzuki strings program and developed and grew the Middle and Upper School Orchestras. Her ensembles consistently receive superior ratings and first place awards at adjudicated festivals and competitions. Per invitation, the Viewpoint Upper School Orchestra has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City, Symphony Hall in Chicago and Davies Hall in San Francisco.  Before moving to California, Dr. Herkstroeter taught strings in the award winning Penfield Central School District in upstate New York. In 2022, Dr. Herkstroeter was awarded the Outstanding School Orchestra Teacher award by the Greater Los Angeles Section of the California Chapter of the American String Teachers Association.