Multi-style cellist Kaitlyn Raitz, originally from Long Island, New York, and now based in Nashville, Tennessee, discovered her love for music amidst a rich tapestry of genres that sparked her curiosity and fueled her creative fire at a young age. Now, equally at home playing the works of Schubert or Sondheim, immersing herself in a bluegrass jam or diving into the intricacies of a Beethoven string quartet, performing on stage at Carnegie Hall or the Grand Ole Opry, Kaitlyn's versatility as a musician knows no bounds.

Under the tutelage of Julia Lichten at Purchase College, State University of New York’s Conservatory of Music, she earned a Bachelor’s of Music degree and Performer’s Certificate. Her recitals here, blending sonatas, fiddle tunes, and collaborations with dancers and singers, signaled her unique artistic path. Under the guidance of Matt Haimovitz at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, she journeyed deeper into her craft, performing with GRAMMY-nominated cello ensemble, Uccello, and earned a Master’s of Music degree, enriching her musicality and expanding her horizons.

During her time in Montreal, Kaitlyn's passion for collaboration flourished. She embarked on musical adventures with experimental pop artist Thanya Iyer and the contemporary folk band The Bombadils. In the pursuit of creating her own music, she co-founded the folk duo Bride & Groom with singer-songwriter Jesse Daniel Smith. Together, they embarked on extensive North American tours and recorded three albums, solidifying her desire to find her own musical voice on the cello. In 2015, Kaitlyn's creative path crossed with JUNO-award-winning fiddler, and now husband, Ben Plotnick, giving birth to their “inspired collaboration,” (NPR) Oliver The Crow. Their self-titled debut album, released in June 2018, garnered critical acclaim and earned them a nomination for a Canadian Folk Music Award.

Since then, Kaitlyn has had the privilege of collaborating and sharing the stage with world-renowned artists across diverse genres such as trumpeter and composer Frank London of the Klezmatics, country singer-songwriters Brandy Clark and Tyler Childers, fiddler and songwriter Laura Cortese, pop singer-songwriters Jillette Johnson and Bre Kennedy, and tabla player Shawn Mativetsky. When she's not on the road, Kaitlyn can be found in recording studios and on stages throughout Nashville. Her playing can be heard on albums by notable artists such as Billy Strings, The Kitchen Dwellers, Ashley Cooke, Brett Young, Lucy Dacus, Brennen Leigh, Glüme, and Steve Wariner, among others. She also lends her talents to video game, film, and TV soundtracks.

In the face of the pandemic-induced isolation, Kaitlyn found solace in music and embarked on a personal musical experiment. The result of this time was her debut solo album, "Me, Myself, Myself, and I" (2021). Combining the technical brilliance of contemporary classical music with folk and pop melodies, these pieces serve as a testament to her innovation as a cellist and composer. Kaitlyn has brought the music of her debut album to prestigious stages such as SXSW (Official Artist, 2023), New Directions Cello Festival, Ottawa Chamberfest, Western Kentucky University, and Classical Louisville’s “New Lens” series. Her music has resonated with audiences worldwide, as evident from the over 4.5 million streams amassed by "Me, Myself, Myself, and I."

Kaitlyn is honored to have been entrusted to compose for a number of other ensembles. In 2022, she was commissioned to be Metropolis Ensemble’s "Flame Keeper" Composer in February, and was also commissioned that same year by Intersection contemporary ensemble to compose the cello octet, "OTTO.” Additionally, she served as the Composer in Residence for the Lotus Chamber Music Collective for their 2017-2018 season. Not satisfied by the boundaries of traditional recorded music, Kaitlyn ventured into the realm of web3, releasing the groundbreaking generative string quartet, "Element," on Async.art in June of 2022. Through a captivating collaboration with artist Jana Stýblová, she translated the sounds of the natural world into a language of strings, exploring themes of environmental destruction and resilience.

Beyond her musical endeavors, Kaitlyn is an accomplished music photographer and videographer who proudly represents Peluso Microphone Lab. She also finds joy as a back-up zookeeper in the Behavioral Husbandry department at the Nashville Zoo.