KayCee Galano Finds Her Voice Through the Violin

For violinist KayCee Galano, mastering an instrument is only part of the journey. The greater challenge lies in making the music speak—conveying its emotions and stories through her own interpretation while remaining true to the composer’s intentions. In a recent interview with The Manila Times, Galano opened up about the people and experiences that have shaped her artistry, the lessons she has learned from her mentors, and her aspirations for the future.

From Home to the Concert Hall

Galano’s earliest musical influences came from home. “When I think about who influenced me to become an artist, my parents were really my first exposure to music,” she said. Her parents regularly took her to orchestra and chamber music concerts on weekends, introducing her to the experience of hearing music performed live. That exposure gradually evolved into a deeper understanding of what musicianship entails. Over time, she began to see that it involves more than accurately playing the notes on a page.

“It’s about looking at the music through your own personal lens, understanding what you see and feel in the score and finding a way to translate that into sound,” Galano explained. “As a performer, I want to share my interpretation with the audience and hopefully help them connect with the music—to experience the story and emotions that I hear in it.”

A Growing International Presence

Galano has already built an impressive international resume. She has performed concertos with orchestras in Europe, China, North America, and the Philippines. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in October 2019, performing all six Bach solo sonatas—a formidable feat for any violinist, let alone a young artist. At just 12 years old, she was featured on NPR’s “From the Top” with Christopher O’Riley, a program that showcases exceptional young classical musicians.

Currently, she studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with Kurt Sassmannshaus, a renowned violin pedagogue. Reflecting on her journey, Galano said, “Experiences like these have shaped me not only as a musician, but also as a person.”

The Soloist and the Chamber Musician

Asked which she finds more challenging—performing as a soloist or as a chamber musician—Galano said both demand distinct forms of musical responsibility. “As a soloist, there is a lot of responsibility because you’re essentially carrying the musical narrative and being able to communicate with the audience,” she said. Chamber music, meanwhile, requires constant attention to fellow musicians and a willingness to adjust one’s interpretation in response to the ensemble. “You’re not making decisions on your own. You have to listen constantly and be aware of what everyone else is doing. You have to be able to adjust, communicate and sometimes even let go of your own ideas for the sake of the ensemble.”

For Galano, that process of listening and negotiating musical ideas is also what makes chamber music rewarding. “The greatest joy of chamber music is the process of listening to one another and figuring things out together. The sense of collaboration and shared musical discovery is what makes chamber music so rewarding for me.”

Preparation and Interpretation

Whether performing as a soloist or alongside other musicians, Galano’s preparation begins long before she steps onto the stage. She spends considerable time understanding a composition before focusing on the performance itself. When working on a piece she has never performed, she studies the score and listens to different interpretations. She then experiments with the music to discover what feels natural to her while remaining faithful to the composer’s intentions. Rehearsing with an ensemble or pianist adds another dimension.

One lesson from her teacher, in particular, has influenced how she approaches interpretation: drawing on personal memories and experiences to connect with a specific emotion in the music. This introspection is important when performing alone, but playing with others requires a different set of skills—flexibility, communication, and the ability to listen deeply.

The Constant Student

That sense of continuous discovery is central to the lessons Galano has received from her teachers and mentors. “I think the biggest thing I’ve learned from my teachers is that becoming a musician is a constant process. There is always something to improve and you never really stop learning,” she said. Her studies and participation in various programs and festivals have reinforced the importance of discipline, consistency, and openness to different perspectives.

For Galano, the ultimate purpose of performing is communication. She hopes listeners will feel something in response to the music, whether excitement, sadness, joy, or simply a sense of being moved. She also sees each performance as an opportunity to grow. Even when returning to a piece she has played many times, she approaches it with the understanding that there is always something new to discover. “There’s always something new that I can discover. I have a responsibility to the composer and to the people I’m performing with. I want to come prepared and give my best because everyone on stage is contributing to the same musical experience,” she said.

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, Galano hopes to continue developing both her solo and chamber music careers while performing in more countries, expanding her repertoire, and building meaningful collaborations with fellow musicians. “More than anything, I want to continue developing my own voice as an artist. I hope that wherever music takes me, I’m still curious, still learning and still finding ways to connect with people,” she said.

For the Filipino music scene, Galano represents a growing wave of classical artists making their mark internationally. While OPM (Original Pilipino Music) often dominates the spotlight, classical musicians like Galano show that Filipino talent resonates just as powerfully on the world’s concert stages. Her journey—from weekend concerts with her parents to Carnegie Hall—serves as an inspiring reminder that artistry is built one note, one lesson, and one performance at a time.