Our President

As the President of the Violoncello Society of New York (VCS), Kate Dillingham leads one of the country’s most respected organizations dedicated to advancing the art of cello playing. Under her leadership, VCS continues to foster community, mentorship, and artistic excellence across generations of cellists.

Kate is a driving force in contemporary music, commissioning new works and collaborating on original multimedia projects. She is a Voting Member of The Recording Academy® (GRAMMYs®), a composer member of ASCAP, and a prolific producer of audio/video recordings. 

A passionate educator and creator, she founded MyBlueSkiesMusic™, a patented high-quality virtual platform for musicians to teach, connect, and perform. 

Kate is both architect and facilitator of ideas, deeply committed to her craft and to cultivating music from composition to performance and beyond.

During her tenure, the Violoncello Society (VCS) has expanded its reach and impact through a diverse range of high-level programming, including:

 

Masterclasses presented with:

Laurence Lesser, Hans Jørgen Jensen, John-Henry Crawford, Zlatomir Fung, Ole Akahoshi, and Sara Sant’Ambrogio.

 

Lectures and discussions featuring:

Terry King, Loretta O’Sullivan, Diana Golden, and David Starkweather.

 

Established initiatives under her direction include:

  • VCS Cello Ensemble performances at Bohemian National Hall, Make Music New York 

  • VCS Student Cello Choir in collaboration with Dr. Miho Weber

  • Cello Wellness program with Michael Viljoen

  • The Fred Zlotkin Memorial Masterclass Fund, supporting future generations of cellists