Kathy Fraser grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during the height of the folk music era, the daughter of a guitar teaching mother and classical music enthusiast father. In 1968, she and her sister formed a group of guitar-strumming, harmony-singing pre-teens called The Peanut Gallery. They performed at folk festivals and for special events throughout the 60s and 70s, including the 1974 World’s Fair.
In 1970 Fraser began playing the cello and soon incorporated it in the group’s repertoire. In the 80s, she began composing her own duets and trios for the cello, as well as arranging classical and pop music. Playing duets written by composers such as Friedrich Dotzauer and Sebastian Lee in high school inspired her to write music that allows every part to shine.
Fraser is currently active in community orchestras on the big island of Hawaii. She also plays originals and standards in a guitar and cello duo and performs Baroque music in a small chamber group. While she enjoys performing, her favorite pastime is composing music. Fraser believes that music should not only be enjoyable for the listener, but also fun for the musician regardless of the part he or she is given.
