The Great Kat

The Great Kat (born Katherine Thomas in 1966 in Swindon) is a musician born in the United Kingdom and raised in New York, mostly known for her thrash metal interpretations of the best-known pieces of European classical music. She plays most of the time on electric guitar, but she also sometimes uses the violin. Thomas in fact had a classical violin training; a graduate of the Juilliard School, she made her debut in conventional classical music, before sliding towards metal. Guitar One magazine referred to her as one of the "greatest shredders of all time" and several critics have praised the speed and clarity of her playing. Her classical training, her virtuosity and the care she takes with her image mean that she is sometimes compared to Yngwie Malmsteen.