"Carrie is a wonderful teacher! She is able to assess performance and posture issues quickly and provide a clear explanation for improvement. I highly recommend studying with her!"
- Megan Morris
(Orchestra Teacher at Gwinnett County Public Schools)
Carrie Miller began her cello journey at age 9. Since then, she has taught and performed across the country and currently works as a freelance musician, private instructor, and coach in Davis, California.
After learning and performing cello extensively in a variety of high school settings, Carrie studied with
Professor Andrew Luchansky at California State University, Sacramento where she received a
Bachelor of Music in cello performance in 2013. During her four years in Sacramento, she took
masterclasses with pianist-composer Eric Zivian, Timothy Eddy, and Steven Doane. In 2015, she
performed the Lalo Cello Concerto after winning the CSU Sacramento Concerto Competition. Carrie
then continued her studies under the guidance of Professor Greg Sauer at Florida State University,
where she received a Masters of Music in cello performance in 2017. Carrie taught cello and
mentored students while in Florida.
After obtaining her masters, Carrie moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where she performed with the
Jackson Symphony, South West Symphony Orchestra, Adrian Symphony Orchestra, and West
Symphony Orchestra. She also performed in musicals and a number of chamber series. During this
time her work as a cello instructor blossomed and grew into a thriving entrepreneurial business.
Carrie now lives in her hometown of Davis, CA where she teaches cello both in-person and virtually
over the internet. Carrie enjoys working with cellists of all ages and skill levels. She feels that one of
the best parts of being a teacher is the opportunity to connect on a personal level with her students
and to help them network with other musicians. Carrie finds it especially rewarding to instruct
students one-on-one in her studio, and also to visit public schools for extensive work with cellists in
an educational setting. She loves her job—and it shows!
"I have had the absolute privilege of being a student of Carrie's for about 5 years. Carrie's style of teaching is well balanced with music knowledge, patience, discipline, thoughtfulness, and enthusiasm.
I highly recommend Carrie as a cello teacher."
- Karen (Current Student)
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Art of Chamber Music
Graduate Cello Assistant
Teaching Freshman at Florida State University
Teacher's Assistant
Managing schedules, directing ensembles, organizing rehearsal spaces
String Project Teacher
Advanced and Intermediate Orchestra, Beginning Cello at CSUS
ADJUDICATION AND COACHING
Music For the Sake of Music Private Cello Teacher
Music Festival
Sacramento Youth Symphony Chamber Music Coaching
Music Festival
Raa Middle School Cello Sectional
Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced
Chamber Music Coaching
String quartet
Davis Senior High School seating auditions
Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and Baroque Ensemble
Davis Senior High School cello sectionals
Chamber Orchestra and Baroque Ensemble
LEADERSHIP AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Classical Revolution
Sacramento, Tallahassee
Rosemary Beach Foundation
Fundraising Committee Chair
Volunteer, Community Outreach
Volunteer, Music Tutor
Music History
Music Theory
Piano
PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE
Adrian Symphony Orchestra
Midland Symphony Orchestra
West Michigan Symphony
South West Michigan Symphony
Jackson Symphony Orchestra
Albany Symphony Orchestra
Panama City Pops Orchestra
Gulf Coast Symphony
Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra
University Symphony Orchestra, Florida State
Numerous chamber music collaborations with CSU, Sacramento, faculty,
California State University, Sacramento, Symphony Orchestra
Camerata Capistrano Baroque Ensemble
University of California, Davis Baroque Ensemble
Renaissance Society countless solo and chamber performances
Composers Competition during the Festival of New American Music at CSU, Sacramento
Camerata Capistrano Tour
Cal Cap Chamber Music Festival, at CSU, Sacramento
Sacramento Bravo Bach Festival
Faculty Gala performance on New Millennium Concert Series
Music at Noon Concert Series
VITA Symphony Orchestra
California State University Sacramento, Chamber Choir
California State University, Sacramento, Opera Orchestra
University of California at Davis Symphony Orchestra
WORLD PREMIERS
The Long Rain for solo cello by Justin Giarrusso
Timepieces for String Quartet by Nick Micheels
Tombstones in the Starlight by Kari Kreiter
Brilliant Midnight by Kari Kreiter
Anachronastic Visions by Ryan Suleiman
Point-Line-Curve for String Quartet, Wind Quartet, Brass Quartet, and Percussion Quartet by Dr. Steven Blumberg
ADDITIONAL CELLO STUDIES
Dr. Tanya Carey, Profesor of Cello Roosevelt University
Dr. Deborah Pae, Professor of Eastern Michign
Uri Vardi, Professor of Cello Wisconsin University
Andy Smith, Professor of Cello at University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Elisabeth Reed, Co-Director, Conservatory Baroque Ensemble; Baroque
cello, baroque cello and Feldenkrais method
Susan Lamb Cook, Professor of Cello at University of California, Davis