Kylie Baird is a second-year graduate student at DePaul University’s School of Music, pursuing a Master’s Degree in viola performance under the tutelage of Professor Ann Marie Brink. Earning her Bachelor’s at the University of Arizona under the instruction of Dr. Molly Gebrian, Kylie has been the recipient of the 2023-24 Presser Undergraduate Scholar award and continues to explore her educational opportunities. Kylie is an active performer in both academic and professional settings, regularly playing in DePaul’s orchestral and chamber ensembles. She has also performed with the Arizona Symphony Orchestra, the award-winning Desert Violas Ensemble, and the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra. Most recently, she held a fellowship position with the Opera Festival of Chicago, and her involvement with operatic productions also extends to the DePaul Opera Ensemble. She interned for Arizona Friends of Chamber Music, a non-profit organization that presents concerts of world-class musicians year-round, and achieved recognition at the National Music Festival, an immersive two-week orchestral and chamber music festival in Chestertown, Maryland. In addition, she volunteered for Suite Melody Care-Arizona, an organization dedicated to providing complimentary concerts for those in hospitals and memory care homes, contributing to the well-being and joy of those in need.