Violinist Dr. Carol Carlson is an avid performer, a devoted teacher, and a successful creative arts entrepreneur. She has performed solo recitals and chamber music across the United States and in Europe.
She regularly performs as a member of Duo Mendota (www.duomendota.com), the Pecatonica String Quartet (www.pecatonicamusic.com) and the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra (www.dubuquesymphony.org). Carol also teaches in a variety of outreach programs through the DSO, including the Adopt-a-Musician program and the DSO Summer Strings Camp at Clarke University.
Carol is Executive Director and co-founder of Madison nonprofit organization Music con Brio, Inc., which provides high quality violin, piano, cello and percussion lessons and equipment at a graduated tuition rate to a culturally and socioeconomically diverse group of 75 students ranging in age from first through twelfth grade. Music con Brio presents an annual Community Concert Series featuring partnerships with local artists ranging from funk band The Big Payback to nationally acclaimed Madison Bach Musicians, a Baroque period ensemble. Concert footage, student photos and more can be found on the organization’s website at www.musicconbrio.org.
Carol often collaborates with other musicians and dancers, and has been a featured performer with Madison Ballet, the UW-Madison Dance Department, and Li Chiao-Ping Dance. In November 2012, Carol was co-presenter of the UW Dance Department Faculty concert Facets with choreographer/UW Madison dance professor Marlene Skog. There she gave the premiere performance of her third composition commission, a collaborative work entitled Rock Paper Scissors. At Facets, Carol also performed her compositions Village (2012) and The Swan (2010). The Madison Isthmus stated, “[Village] is sexy and strong … musician and composer Carol Carlson is an ideal collaborator”. Carol can also be seen performing on PBS in “Ethan Bortnick: The Power of Music”, and heard on country music radio nationwide performing fiddle with Mitch Goudy, named one of the Country Music Association’s “Who New to Watch For 2014”.
Carol graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in violin performance with a minor in dance from UW-Madison in the spring of 2014, writing her dissertation on Interdisciplinary Collaborative Performance. She studied violin with Professor Felicia Moye, whom she also served as teaching assistant. Additionally, Carol holds the Master of Music degree from UW-Madison; Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Truman State University; and the Graduate Certificate in Performance from Park University. Carol is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Sigma Alpha Iota.
In addition to teaching in Music con Brio, Carol currently holds a position at Clarke University; she previously held a position at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where she taught arts entrepreneurship, music appreciation, and string techniques; private violin and viola lessons; and string chamber music. She also maintains a private studio of violin, viola, piano and voice students. Carol lives in Madison with her husband Matt, a trombonist, and their daughter Julianna.
