Cello Chat with Host Dr. Benjamin Whitcomb and guest Carolyn Hagler

Carolyn Hagler is the director & primary instructor for Cello Discovery. She is a tenured member of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and holds Master of Music degree in performance from the University of Texas at Austin. She also holds a K-12 teaching certificate in the state of TX.

While attending UT Austin, Carolyn was awarded a position as an instructor in the world-renowned teacher training program, The UT String Project. It was at the UTSP where Carolyn honed her skills as a string teacher under the guidance of the legendary pedagogue, Phyllis Young. Carolyn spent many years teaching in the public schools, and her orchestras consistently won top honors in contests and festivals throughout the state. Carolyn is dedicated to the principle that anyone can learn. If pedagogy is presented in small, systematic steps, learning a stringed instrument is absolutely achievable at any age.

Carolyn has performed all over the globe and garnered international acclaim with her “soulful stirrings” as a cellist – both in the US and abroad. She has performed on many recordings and movie soundtracks as well as on stage with Harry Connick Jr, Steve Wariner, Andrea Bocelli, Smokey Robinson, Kat Edmonson, Itzthak Perlman, Joshua Bell and a host of others. One of Carolyn’s performance ensembles was featured on NPR and on National Radio Spain. Carolyn was also one of the earliest members of the New World Symphony in Miami FL – (America’s Orchestral Academy, preparing highly-gifted graduates of distinguished music programs for leadership roles in orchestras and ensembles around the world).

Carolyn is a member of these professional string educator associations: American String Teacher’s Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Austin Federation of Musicians

Connecting people through music is Carolyn’s true calling and teaching students the magic of music is the ultimate goal of Cello Discovery – at any age or stage of life.