Lynne Garrett has enjoyed a dual career as both a pianist and violinist, truly embodying a lifelong dedication to her craft.

Her parents loved music, and it was part of everyday life in the household. She anxiously began piano lessons at age 7, and group violin at age 8 through the excellent public-school program in Oakland, California. Her unwavering love for music led her to earn a BA in piano performance at UC Santa Barbara. While in Santa Barbara, she met the renowned Hungarian pedagogue Dusi Mura, who had a profound influence on her as a pianist and musician. She worked closely with Ms. Mura for six years, continuing their mentorship from a distance until Ms. Mura’s death in 2009.

Driven by a spirit of discovery, Ms. Garrett left the West Coast and journeyed to Buffalo, New York, where she spent 7 years as a teacher, piano soloist, chamber musician, and freelance violinist. She then returned to school at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where she studied with Rebecca Penneys who provided tremendous support and many valuable pearls of wisdom. There, she earned the MM and DMA degrees in Piano Performance and Literature.  

For the following ten years Dr. Garrett taught at Universities in Arkansas, Kansas, Texas and California. After a decade of college teaching, she returned to teaching privately in her own studio in Orcutt, in Santa Barbara County, CA. For the next 20 years, she was delighted by a steady stream of fascinating young students.

During her years as a college educator, Dr. Garrett joined with some of her favorite musicians and became a founding and performing member of the contemporary music ensemble 'Colloquy'. The ensemble commissioned several new works and brought their vibrant performances across the US, in Canada, Mexico, and in London, UK.

In 2024 Dr. Garrett explored the Northwest and settled in Eugene Oregon, where she continues to share her love for music through performing and teaching. She remains a member of MTNA https://www.mtna.org/, and https://www.omta-eugene.org/.