Canadian-born classical guitarist Katie Lonson is a unique soloist and chamber musician whose refined musicality and powerful stage presence define her.
About me
She began her musical studies in cello and classical guitar at the Senior Academy Program for Gifted Youth at Mount Royal University’s Conservatory in Calgary. After relocating to Germany, she chose to specialize as a classical guitarist, earning a German Diplom in Artistic Solo Performance and a Master of Music (Honours) from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart under Prof. Johannes Monno, followed by a postgraduate degree from the Mozarteum University in Salzburg under Prof. Laura Young. Her artistic development has been further shaped by masterclasses with world-renowned artists such as Roland Dyens, Sergio and Odair Assad, Pepe Romero, Anthony Rooley, Margarita Escarpa, Leila Schayegh, and Pavel Steidl.
A founding member of the Salzburg Guitar Trio, she has won first prizes at major international competitions, including the Guitar Foundation of America’s International Ensemble Competition. The trio has performed throughout Europe and was the first ensemble to undertake the GFA Artist Tour in the USA and Canada. Their concerts have been broadcast on television, radio, and livestream and are featured on their debut album, III. During a residency at Gaudí’s La Pedrera in Barcelona, Catalan composer José Galeote dedicated a work to the trio, which they premiered in the building—directly inspired by Gaudí’s architecture. Upcoming plans include the album release of John Duarte’s complete original works for guitar trio in 2026.
She has collaborated extensively in the tenor-guitar duo, Hika, noted for it’s unique expressivity and blend of Western and Japanese musical influences. Supported by German cultural foundations including the Deutscher Musikrat and Klangspektrum Baden-Württemberg, the duo has recorded a selection of her transcriptions of Japanese folk and art songs; a dedicated album of these works is planned for release in 2026/27.
Katie’s solo distinctions include first prize at the Canadian Music Competition, second prize at the Tallinn International Guitar Competition, and third prize at the Sarajevo International Guitar Festival Competition. Her performances have been featured on Canadian television and on Estonian public radio (ERR). She has received substantial grants from foundations such as Canada Council for the Arts and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and is an alumna of both Domaine Forget International Music Academy and the Live Music Now foundation.
She has served on juries for major solo and ensemble competitions including the Deutsche Orchesterwettbewerb, Stuttgart International Classic Guitar Competition, Guitarfest West International Guitar Competition, Zruč nad Sazavou International Guitar Competition as well as Jugend Musiziert, and has given public masterclasses throughout the USA, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Germany.
Her musical versatility extends beyond classical music; she is a former cellist of the Berlin-based experimental crossover ensemble Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra and is featured on “The Devil, You + Me”, an album by the indie band The Notwist.
Committed to musicians’ health and sustainable practice, Katie has given workshops on wrist and upper-body health for musicians, including “Wrist and Upper Body Warm-ups for Musicians” at Guitar Fest West in Canada, focusing on circulation, joint mobility and tension reduction.
Katie currently serves as a lecturer at the School for Music and Art in Böblingen, Germany.