Giselle Hillyer, D.M.A

Giselle Hillyer performs extensively as a violinist and violist, both internationally and throughout North America. Some of her recent engagements include solos with the Washington-Idaho Symphony and recitals in Idaho and Washington. She is an active chamber musician in ensembles with faculty from the University of Idaho and Washington State University.

Hillyer holds a D.M.A. from the University of Kansas, an M.M. and a Graduate Diploma from the New England Conservatory, and a B.M. from the University of Adelaide, Australia. Her early studies were in her birth country of New Zealand. Her teachers Ben Sayevich, Eric Rosenblith, Michèle Auclair, Beryl Kimber, Eric Lawson, and Jan Tawroszewicz left her with life-long lessons from which she draws daily.

As a pedagogue, she is experienced and deeply committed to teaching students of all levels. Hillyer was a tenured professor at Mercer University and also taught at the University of Wisconsin River Falls before moving to Idaho in 2013. She is also a certified Suzuki teacher, and teaches students from beginning up to college level. Hillyer’s students have been competition and scholarship winners at national summer festivals, Suzuki graduation ceremonies, and regional competitions.

Hillyer is co-concertmaster of the Washington-Idaho Symphony, and has performed frequently with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Minnesota Opera Orchestra, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

Previous concerts include tours of New Zealand, recitals in Mexico and New Caledonia, and solos with the Macon Symphony and Dekalb Symphony Orchestra. Hillyer was a member of the “Trio St Croix” from 2006 – 2013. Her c.d. “Sonatas and Images” was recorded with pianist Roger McVey and released on Albany Records.