Currently the Director of the UGA Community Music School, Kristin Jutras began Suzuki violin at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY when she was 4 years old.   She continued her studies at Eastman until she was 25 receiving both bachelors and masters degrees in violin performance as well as a performer’s certificate.   While still in school, Kristin was the only college student to hold a full-time position in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and continued to pursue her Suzuki teacher training as well.  She received her Suzuki teacher training at Eastman School of Music, Texas Christian University, and the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point.  Kristin has maintained a full Suzuki teaching studio since 1997. 

In addition to her teaching career, Kristin has been a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.  She has performed in Carnegie Hall numerous times, recorded much of the standard orchestral repertoire, and toured Europe three times with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Kristin has also been an active chamber musician performing regularly with Duo Renard, the Dallas Chamber Orchestra, Mount Vernon Music, and other chamber groups in the Dallas area.  Currently she performs as 2nd violinist in the UGA Hodgson School of Music faculty string quartet.

Kristin now lives in Watkinsville with her husband, Dr. Pete Jutras,  Assistant Professor of Piano Pedagogy at UGA, her two sons ages 5 and 7 and their dog Sebastian.