Carolinekinsey

In addition to orchestral playing, Ms. Kinsey has been a guest artist at several horn workshops as well as holding many master classes in Arkansas and Texas. In August of 2004 she was invited and took the opportunity to spend two weeks in Santa Cruz, Bolivia teaching and holding master classes to horn players at the local performing arts academy and air force bands.

Before coming to Memphis, Caroline was co-founder and principal horn of the Pinnacle Players Music Festival in Little Rock, AR as well as music librarian and Outreach Services Coordinator for the Arkansas Symphony.

Currently, in addition to the MSO, Caroline is music librarian for the Memphis Youth Symphony, teaches private horn lessons at several high schools in Memphis and maintains an active private studio in her home near Shelby Farms.

Caroline Kinsey , a native of San Antonio, TX, is third horn with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra after 11 years as principal horn of the Arkansas Symphony, Little Rock, AR. She received her Bachelor of Music degree and Performers Certificate from the Eastman School of Music in 1990 and her Professional Studies Certificate from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 1993. Ms. Kinsey has toured throughout Europe and Japan, and has been a member of several orchestras across the United States including the Honolulu Symphony, the Corpus Christi Symphony, Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra (Columbus, OH), and the Canton (OH) Symphony Orchestra. Other orchestral appearances have been with the San Antonio Symphony, the National Repertory Orchestra, the Hawaii Opera Company, and the National Orchestral Institute.

Fun Facts about Caroline:

Some hobbies: Going to Shelby Farms with my dog Gina and biking there as well with friends. I would take my cat Serge, but there is no cat park, yet.

If she wasn't a musician, she'd: love to be a chef specializing in healthy foods and desserts!

What she's reading now: Right now I am reading Bram Stoker's Dracula but have about 5 other books i am trying to read at the same time.

Her favorite Memphis restaurant: No favorite really, still trying as many as I can.

Favorite vacation: I love Europe but I really want to go to Alaska.

Worst non-musical job: I wouldn't say it was the worst job but maybe the funniest. In high school I modeled clothes of different boutiques at different restaurants at a place call Los Patios in San Antonio. I had to explain what I wearing and where you could get it and then after that i would work in the store and iron clothes. It was a bit humiliating because I had to interupt their lunch and then most of the time they liked my shoes (which were mine) more than the clothes i was trying to sell!

Most Influential teacher: I have gotten a lot from all my teachers but I would say Eli Epstein was where I got my approach to horn playing.

Her Earliest Musical memory: I have been singing ever since i was born. My mom was/is the choir director at our church and I started singing as soon as i could walk.

Favorite composer: I can't pick a favorite but I have a huge love for Brahms

What she listens to in the car: Music, ummm, well NPR?

What do you enjoy most about performing?: There are several things about performing music that is exciting. One, making music with my colleagues & doing it different everytime...it is never the same ~ there is nothing like live music! Also, knowing that we are bringing emotional excitment to our audience and possibly making their day end on a happy note.