Dr. Nina Kiken

Nina Kiken is a D.C. based violist committed to helping students cultivate personal musical expression through rigorous technical study and artistic exploration. Nina previously served as the teaching assistant to Jeffrey Irvine and Lynne Ramsey at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and was Assistant Professor of Violin and Viola at SUNY New Paltz. She is currently viola faculty at Towson University. Her research interests include the history of American string pedagogy, interdisciplinary perspectives on performance, and development of proprioceptive skills in string-playing. 

Locally, Nina has performed at the Kennedy Center, Creative Alliance, Baltimore Museum of Art, Miracle Theater and the National City Christian Church. Recent festival appearances include the Hamptons Festival of Music, Spoleto Festival USA, Lake George Music Festival and St. Barts Music Festival. In Cleveland, Nina was an artist-in-residence at Judson Manor, a senior living community, and served as the president of the Ohio Viola Society. Nina earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She completed her undergraduate degree with Roland Vamos while playing in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.