Colleen Hunter began studying piano with her mother at age three and followed in her sister’s footsteps on the violin at age nine. She received Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of Montana, with additional study in string pedagogy at Denver University, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and the Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto, Japan. A founding member of SOR and principal violist with the Missoula Symphony, Colleen has also performed with orchestras in Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, and Kalispell/Whitefish. Colleen founded the UM Suzuki
String Program and has also worked for the Montana Arts Council, H&R Block, Missoula County Public Schools, and at UM in Women’s Studies and the Center for Ethics. Currently a nationally certified research administrator, she serves as a sponsored programs specialist in UM’s Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.