Mc Kayla Talasek is a violist, violinist, and educator with more than fifteen years of experience performing with orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout the United States (Texas, California, Nevada, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri) and internationally in Czechia and Austria. 

Based in St. Louis, Mc Kayla performs as a substitute section violist with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and maintains an active freelance career on both violin and viola. Her current engagements include performances with the Saint Louis Chamber Soloists, Chamber Project St. Louis, and Union Avenue Opera. 

As an educator, Mc Kayla is committed to helping students establish a strong technical foundation while cultivating creativity, musical independence, and confident, expressive playing. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes not only the development of dependable instrumental skills, but also the curiosity, discipline, and enthusiasm that support lifelong participation in music. She enjoys working with students of all ages and levels, encouraging each musician to develop a meaningful connection with their instrument and the music they perform. Currently, Mc Kayla teaches viola lessons at Washington University, leads group violin at Forsyth School, and maintains private students at her home and through the St. Louis String Collective. 

Mc Kayla holds a Master of Music in Viola Performance and Orchestral Career Studies from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a Bachelor of Arts in Violin Performance from the University of the Incarnate Word. Her principal teachers include Yizhak Schotten, Dustin Budish, Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio, Gerald Schoezel, and Jenny Jones.