MargaretO'Malley
Classical Violist
Established performer with a passion for sharing classical music through education and community engagement.
Classical Violist
Established performer with a passion for sharing classical music through education and community engagement.
Margaret O'Malley is graduating in 2026 with a Master's Degree in Viola Performance at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in the studio of Ivo van der Werff. Previously, she studied under Misha Amory and Heidi Castleman at The Juilliard School.
Originally hailing from Illinois, Margaret has been recognized for her solo and chamber music performances on both violin and viola by The Chicago Musicians Club of Women Awards Competition, The Rembrandt Chamber Musicians High School Chamber Music Competition, The DuPage Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Auditions, and The ENKOR International Competition.
She has soloed with numerous orchestras in the Chicagoland area, including The Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra and The Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago. During the summer, Margaret has attended The Meadowmount School of Music, The Aspen Music Festival and School, and the Bowdoin International Music Festival.
Margaret O'Malley is a dedicated teacher, possessing Suzuki Association of the Americas certification through Unit 3. Her teaching philosophy stems from knowledge gleaned from her own studies with legendary professors Gerardo Ribeiro and Helen Callus of Northwestern University, Heidi Castleman and Misha Amory of The Juilliard School, and Ivo Van Der Werff of Rice University. Margaret emphasizes building a strong technical framework, from which musicians can achieve long-term success and satisfaction. She supplies students with detailed instructions on how to practice and prepare between lessons, helping them achieve quicker progress during their individual practice time. Margaret believes in a holistic approach to teaching, and provides her students with an understanding of the musical, technical, and historic context of string playing.
Margaret has experience teaching a wide range of ages and levels, from pre-school to high-school, and from absolute beginners to advanced levels. As a competition winner on both violin and viola, Margaret is confident teaching either instrument, and can provide specialized guidance for those interested in switching from violin to viola.
Margaret offers regular weekly lessons (both in-person and online), and is also happy to provide short term coaching sessions for students looking for expert guidance on structuring their practice time, or needing extra help preparing for an audition.
For lesson inquiries, collaborations, private events, or press inquiries, please complete the form below.