Carol Pearson

Viola

Year you Joined the ECSO: 1997

Carol is an active violist in the area, playing in the orchestras of Salt Marsh Opera, Opera Theater of CT, Con Brio, Mystic River Chorale, and has also played with the Hartford Symphony, Orchestra New England, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Tacoma (WA) Symphony, Waterbury Symphony, New Britain Symphony, and with various artists at Mohegan Sun casino.

Carol has a great love for chamber music, which started while a student at Hartt School of Music, inspired by the Emerson String quartet, in residence at the time. She participated in the Yellow Barn chamber Music Festival, and the New England Conservatory Chamber Music Festival. Her piano quartet ‘Genisius’ was a featured group in the Christ Episcopal Church (Norwich) chamber music series for many years. She currently plays in a quartet with members of the ECSO.

While a student at Hartt, Carol studied with Eric Rosenblith, Charles Treger, and Rafael Oruian, and continued studies with Jesse Levine of Yale.
She teaches viola and violin at Thames Valley Music School, and at home in Stonington.

Hidden talent(s): I work as a gardener, and used to be a massage therapist for animals as well as humans.

Favorite musical memory: Performing the Faure C minor piano quartet with fellow students at Hartt.

Favorite Motto or Quote: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated’.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Favorite Composer:Brahms

What/Who inspired you to take up your instrument: I switched from violin to viola halfway through college because I realized viola was my voice.