Kleis Swan began violin at six in Saskatoon and by fourteen had joined the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. A member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada for several seasons, she earned the A.R.C.T. from the Royal Conservatory of Music with the Gold Medal for the highest standing in Canada.
Kleis holds a Bachelor of Music Performance degree from the University of Toronto (1992) where her principal teacher was Lorand Fenyves. In addition to her University programme, she has studied at the Soundfest Institute for Chamber Music with the Colorado String Quartet and at the Banff Centre. As a freelance violinist, Kleis has played in most major orchestras in the Toronto area. She was also a member of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra.
An enthusiastic and dedicated teacher of violin, Kleis has worked with children and adults from beginners to advanced. She has also been a coach at CAMMAC (a chamber music camp for amateur adult musicians) and a guest artist with the Toronto District School Board. Her association with the Toronto School for Strings goes back to 2001.