Interview: John Wisniewski
MGM: When did you become interested in classical music and in playing Classical music?
First of all, THE GREAT KAT (http://www.greatkat.com) Is The Reincarnation Of Beethoven, The Only Guitar/violin Double Virtuoso Since Paganini, Juilliard Grad Violin Virtuoso, “top 10 Fastest Shredders Of All Time”, World’s Fastest Guitar/violin Shredder, And A Metal Legend! Now Bow To Your Metal Messiah https://youtu.be/5JxKbdu7L_8
I was BORN listening to Beethoven – history’s MOST powerful Classical composer! After hearing Beethoven’s genius music since birth I realized that my mission in life was to continue Beethoven’s brilliant legacy and BRING HIS MUSIC to THE ENTIRE WORLD!
MGM: Were you a child prodigy?
YES! Violin prodigy! I began studying piano at age 7 and violin at age nine. I won a Full Scholarship on Violin to attend The Juilliard School in New York City. I became the Concertmaster of the Juilliard Pre-College Orchestra and won the “Robert Hufstader Scholarship” in Theory at Juilliard. I graduated with Honors from The Juilliard School and began performing, first as a Classical violin soloist at Carnegie Recital Hall as winner of the exclusive “Artists International Competition” and then soloing in Mexico, the U.S. and Europe, where I performed solo violin for Governor Oscar Flores Tapia in Coahuila, Mexico. I also performed as a prodigy violin soloist for NYC Mayor Ed Koch at Gracie Mansion and won numerous competitions on violin.
After graduating from Juilliard, I began researching popular music forms and first collaborated with Counter-Culture Guru Timothy Leary on the rock song “Right Brain Lover”, which I composed the music & played electric violin with Timothy Leary rapping his own lyrics. We recorded this outrageous song – check it out on New York Public Library “Timothy Leary Papers” at http://archives.nypl.org/mss/18400#c759755 and stay tuned for news on the release of this Never-before Heard Song!
One day I happened to see a JUDAS PRIEST Music Video on TV and realized that SPEED METAL was POWERFUL and EXCITING! I immediately picked up an electric guitar and began transcribing my intricate violin solos to the guitar and THE GREAT KAT GUITAR-SHREDDING POWERHOUSE was BORN! I began using my “PAGANINI Technique”, which I learned from Juilliard on Violin, and placed it on guitar to bring NOTE-FOR-NOTE AUTHENTIC Classical Violin and orchestral scores to metal with SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, BAND, INSANE SHREDDING at INSANE SPEEDS with INSANE THEATRICS!
The Great Kat AWARDS & ACCOLADES:
–CONCERTMASTER OF THE JUILLIARD PRE-COLLEGE ORCHESTRA
–WINNER OF THE ARTISTS INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION ON VIOLIN
–CARNEGIE RECITAL HALL DEBUT VIOLIN SOLOIST
-“TOP 10 FASTEST SHREDDERS OF ALL TIME” – Guitar One Magazine
-“20 OF THE FASTEST GUITARISTS IN THE WORLD TODAY” – MusicRadar.com
-“50 FASTEST GUITARISTS OF ALL TIME” – Guitar World Magazine
–WINNER of “WHO PLAYS THE FASTEST” – Guitar Player Magazine’s Reader Poll
-“50 SENSATIONAL FEMALE GUITARISTS” – Guitar Player Magazine
-“8 OF THE WORLD’S FASTEST SHREDDERS” – Gibson Lifestyle
-“KILLER HEAVY METAL FRONTWOMEN” – VH1
-Collaborator with Timothy Leary on the song “Right Brain Lover”
-Awarded “Certificate of Merit” from New York Governor Mario Cuomo
-Prodigy Violin Soloist for NYC Mayor Ed Koch at Gracie Mansion
-Prodigy Violin Soloist for Governor Oscar Flores Tapia in Saltillo, Coahuila Mexico
MGM: Your guitar playing has been compared to that of Yngwie Malmsteen. Do you practice everyday?
The Great Kat practices, records music, films music videos and promotes The Great Kat’s Genius Shredclassical Music All Day, Every Day!!! Have YOU Woken up to the Power And Energizing Shredclassical Music of The Great Kat, yet???
Now check out REAL CLASSICAL Music shredded by The Great Kat on TESCO’S TV Commercial for Activision blockbuster video game “CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS” – Featuring The Great Kat’s Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” WATCH at https://youtu.be/6tW_ik2J000
MGM: Tell us a bout the new album? What attracts you to Beethoven?
The New York Times declares: “The wave of the future might well be heavy-metal Beethoven by way of Juilliard. Ms. Kat’s ‘Beethoven on Speed’ album elevates furiousness to a would-be world view”
Beethoven Is Unrepressed Power And Technical Virtuosity Like The Great Kat! ONLY Beethoven and The Great Kat have the GUTS to be brutal musical geniuses and WAKE YOU UP with ENERGY, GENIUS and POWER!
The upcoming New Great Kat Dvd Is Absolutely Outrageous!!! You can watch the music videos from the new DVD RIGHT NOW FREE on AMAZON PRIME & FREE on APPLE MUSIC, featuring Beethoven, Paganini, Vivaldi, Rossini, Liszt, Bach, Sarasate, Chef Great Kat & more. Stay tuned for DVD release date at http://www.greatkat.com
WATCH NEW GREAT KAT UPCOMING DVD FREE on AMAZON PRIME & APPLE MUSIC:
Watch More Here: Itunes
Watch More Great Kat Insanity on Amazon Prime at https://www.amazon.com
MGM: Will you be playing live?
LIVE???? The Great Kat is TOO controversial to play live!! I would need a TEAM of BODYGUARDS and SECURITY to even step foot on stage and bless you submissive with my godliness!!
The Great Kat Is God!!! Now Bow!
NOW become an OFFICIAL KAT THRASHDISCIPLE at http://eepurl.com/cSbl4L and get Great Kat News and more! The Great Kat Official CDs, DVDs, Signed Hot Photos available on the Kat Store at https://www.greatkat.com/katshredstore.html
Any future plans for you?
MORE New Great Kat ShredClassical Videos, DVD & CDs are COMING!!! Stay tuned for all Kat news on The Great Kat Web site at http://www.greatkat.com
Any Great Kat side projects?
Yes, Waking The World Up To Beethoven, Geniusizing Their Lethargic Peanut Sized Brains With Beethoven And Resurrecting Beethoven For The Future!!!! Get It?
The Great Kat IS BEETHOVEN!!!
MGM: Any favorite metal bands, Kat?
Wake Up
The Great Kat Is God
Are You Bowing, Yet Slave
Links:
The Great Kat Website: http://www.greatkat.com
iTunes Music: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/great-kat/id384709526
iTunes Video: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-great-kat/id368743108
Twitter: http://twitter.com/greatkatguitar and https://twitter.com/greatkatviolin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katherineviolinguitar/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Greatkat