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Carolyn Ohlbaum

Silver Spring, Maryland

Personal website: http://www.myspace.com/carolynohlbaum

Carolyn joined Violinist.com on Feb 21, 2007

I have studied and performed on violin since I was 10 years old. My private teachers are listed below. Laura Norris was formerly with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra. William Martin was a fabulous teacher!! Ronald Oakland was formerly an instructor in the Music Department at the University of Maryland and is a Julliard graduate and now freelances in the NYC area. My studies with Ernesto Farago were at the Maryland Regional Center for the Performing Arts, and included chamber music coaching. I also had the pleasure of doing an indepth study, including performance, of Beethoven's Romance in F Major and Mozart's Sonata K.V. 301 under the direction of Dr. Elliott Galkin, former head of the Music Department at Goucher College, former music critic of The Baltimore Sun, violinist, and former director of the Peabody Conservatory of Music.

I have freelanced professionally in the Washington , DC area as a member of the Musicians Union, Local 161-710.

I have performed under many illustrious conductors, including Alexander Schneider, Leonard Bernstein, Morton Gould, Izler Solomon, Maurice Peress, Frederick Fennell, Isaiah Jackson, and John DeMain, to name just a few. And I have had the pleasure of playing for and working with many wonderful world famous artists, including Beverly Sills, Anna Moffo, Rudolph Nureyev, Valery and Galina Panov, Diana Ross, David Nadien, Earl Wild, and Irving Fields, to name just a few. I have also played for distinguished guests and celebrities, including Buzz Aldrin, Jackie Mason, Martin Lass, Julie Wilson, etc.

I have performed on violin as a soloist, with orchestras and with chamber music groups. I am also proficient with playing by ear as a strolling violinist. And I have self-taught myself to improvise and play in a blues style. I can also improvise and play in a jazz style as well. I was concertmistress of my junior high and high school orchestras, as well as first violinist with the Montgomery County Junior/Senior Youth Orchestras. As a member of the Senior Youth Orchestra, I participated in the First International Festival of Youth Orchestras, with performances in St. Moritz, Switzerland and Vienna, Austria. I also auditioned and won a place in the Maryland All-State Orchestra one year, and I played in the Wolf Trap Academy National Orchestra at Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts for two summers on a full scholarship. I also played in the American Youth Performs Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. I have performed publically in chamber music groups (quartet), including a performance at the Maryland Regional Center for the Performing Arts.

As a professional violinist, I have performed at the Mayflower Hotel, the Washington Hilton Hotel, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Pan American Union, the Kennedy Center, and Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts, to name just a few. I have played in the orchestra pit for full-length opera and ballet. I've played for a wedding and receptions.

I am proficient in the classical music style as well as being a strolling violinist. I also have an upcoming "blues" project with blues group "Montana", which includes participating in a cd recording and playing gigs to promote the cd. Also played "blues" violin with "Montana" at Cazbar Inn Restaurant, Baltimore, Maryland in March 2007.

In addition to professional engagements in the Maryland/DC area, I also play in NYC very frequently. Played at Nino's Tuscany Restaurant in NYC on April 22, September 17 and October 12, 16, 18, December 14, 16, 17, 19, 2008; February 14, 24, 2009; April 21, 23, May 17, June 20, 23 and 27, July 26, August 9, September 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 20, October 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, November 11, 14, 2009 (popular music - standards/show tunes) as violin soloist with the legendary "lounge" pianist Irving Fields, and will be playing at Nino's with Irving Fields on a continuing basis when in NYC. Also played at Nino's with Irving Fields on April 25, 2009 (standards/show tunes and "Melody For Moses", composed by Irving Fields, with Carolyn Ohlbaum as violin soloist and piano accompaniment by Irving Fields). On September 20, 2009, included "Fly Me To The Moon" for astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who was dining at Nino's. On October 17, 2009, played as violin soloist, with accompaniment by Irving Fields, for Jackie Mason, who was dining at Nino's. Jackie's compliment for Carolyn was "you play so beautifully."

Played at the Algonquin Hotel, NYC, on September 15, 2008 (Mozart Violin Sonata in G Major, K. 301, first movement), on October 13, 2008 (Liebesleid by Fritz Kreisler; also some popular Italian songs), on October 19, 2008 ("September Song" and "Memory" from Cats), on December 21, 2008 ("White Christmas"), on February 22, 2009 ("The Way You Look Tonight"), with piano accompaniment by Mark Janas, on February 15, 2009 ("Let's Fall in Love"), with piano accompaniment by Bill Zeffiro, on April 19, 2009 ("Strangers In The Night" for an evening of "Frankly Frank", music by Frank Sinatra and Frank Loesser and other Franks), with piano accompaniment by Mark Janas, on April 17, 2009 ("The Way We Were"), with piano accompaniment by Mark Janas, on June 21, 2009 ("Til There Was You"), with piano accompaniment by Bill Zeffiro, on July 26, 2009 ("Fly Me To The Moon"), with piano accompaniment by Mark Janas, on August 9, 2009 ("Moon River"), with piano accompaniment by Mark Janas, for the Algonquin musical Salon, and will be performing at the Salon on a continuing basis when in NYC. Also played ("Days of Wine and Roses") for the musical salon in the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel, special guest star/violinist Martin Lass, on August 13, 2009, accompanied by Mark Janas on piano.

On December 15, 2008, performed "Blue Moon" in an improvisational style for Jim Caruso's "Cast Party" at Birdland, NYC, backed by a jazz trio, with Tedd Firth on piano, Steve Doyle on bass and Steve Bakunas on drums; on December 22, 2008, performed "Silver Bells" and "White Christmas", backed by Tedd Firth on piano and Saadi Zain on bass; on February 16, 2009, performed "Blue Moon" and "Begin the Beguine", backed by David Budway on piano and Steve Doyle on bass; on February 23, 2009, performed "Satin Doll" and "Georgia", backed by Tedd Firth on piano and Steve Doyle on bass; on April 20, 2009, performed "Georgia" and "Begin The Beguine", backed by Tedd Firth on piano and Steve Doyle on bass; on September 7, 2009, performed "Fly Me To The Moon" in a swing/improvisational style, backed by Tedd Firth on piano and Steve Doyle on bass; on September 14, 2009, performed "The Lady Is A Tramp" in a jazz style, backed by Billy Stritch on piano and Steve Doyle on bass; on October 12, 2009, performed a Jobim medley of "Wave" and "One Note Samba" in a bossa style, backed by Tedd Firth on piano and Paul Gill on bass, and also accompanied Joe Regan Jr on the "Dummy Song," along with Tedd Firth on piano and Paul Gill on bass; on October 19, 2009, performed "Fascinating Rhythm" and "On The Sunny Side Of The Street" in a swing style, backed by Tedd Firth on piano and Steve Doyle on bass, will be performing at Birdland on a continuing basis when in NYC.

Played at Don't Tell Mama on April 20, 2009 ("Georgia" and "S'Wonderful"), accompanied by Michael Edelstein on piano; on April 21, 2009 ("Georgia", "Satin Doll", and "It Had To Be You"), accompanied by Tracy Stark on piano; on April 22, 2009 ("Georgia" in a blues/improvisational style), accompanied by Eric James on piano; on April 23, 2009 ("Georgia" and "Nevertheless"), accompanied by Nate Buccieri on piano; on April 24, 2009 ("Georgia"), accompanied by Eric James on piano; on June 21 and 24, 2009 ("Georgia" in a blues style and "Layla" in an improvisational style), accompanied by Eric James on piano; on June 23, 2009 ("Georgia" in a blues/improvisational style), accompanied by Tracy Stark on piano; on July 8, 2009 ("Georgia" in a blues/improvisational style and "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out" in an improvisational style), accompanied by Eric James on piano; on July 9, 2009 ("Georgia" in a blues style), accompanied by Nate Buccieri on piano, on July 29, 2009 ("Georgia" and "Layla"), accompanied by Eric James on piano, on August 5, 2009 ("Georgia"), accompanied by Eric James on piano, on August 26, 2009 ("Moon River"), accompanied by Eric James on piano, on September 23, 2009 ("Moon River" and "Georgia"), accompanied by Eric James on piano, on September 28, 2009 ("I Left My Heart In San Francisco"), accompanied by Joe Regan on piano, on October 7, 2009 ("Moon River" and "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out"), accompanied by Eric James on piano, on October 19, 2009 ("Fascinating Rhythm," "Moon River," Onw For My Baby," "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," etc., and will be playing at Don't Tell Mama on a continuing basis when in NYC.

Played at Butterfield 8, NYC, for Trudi Mann's musical showcase on February 15 and 22, April 19, May 17, and June 21 and 28, July 26, August 9 and 23, September 13, 20, October 11, 18, 2009 (popular/strolling standards and Broadway show tunes, including "Moon River," "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," "Our Love Affair" from the movie An Affair To Remember, "Never On Sunday," and many others - played solo and accompanied singers), backed by John Delfin on piano and Saadi Zain on bass and also played unaccompanied, and will be performing at Butterfield 8 on a continuing basis when in NYC.

Played at the Metropolitan Room on June 26, 2009 ("Memory" from Cats and "Georgia"), accompanied by Lucy Gallaher on piano, and on June 27, 2009 ("Memory," "Georgia" and "Satin Doll"; also accompanied singers) and on September 5 and 12, October 17, 2009, accompanied by Steve Lowenthal on piano; played on October 16, 2009, accompanied by Jeff Kobeta on piano, and will be playing at the Metropolitan Room on a continuing basis when in NYC.

Played at the Iguana, NYC, on June 24, 2009, ("Hello Dolly," specially dedicated to Richard Skipper), accompanied by Barry Levitt on piano and Saadi Zain on bass; on July 8, 2009 ("Fly Me To The Moon"), accompanied by Barry Levitt on piano and a bassist; on July 29, 2009 ("On A Clear Day"), accompanied by Barry Levitt on piano and Saadi Zain on bass; on August 5, 2009 as a "featured" performer ("Moon River" and "Charade"), accompanied by Barry Levitt on piano and Morrie Louden on bass; on August 19, 2009 ("Memory" from Cats), accompanied by Saadi Zain on bass and Christine Talbott Sutin on piano, for the musical variety show hosted by Dana Lorge and well-known impressionist/singer Richard Skipper, and will be playing at the Iguana on a continuing basis when in NYC.

Played at La Mediterranee on August 5, 19, 26 and September 9, 23, October 7, 14, November 11, 2009, accompanied by singer-arranger/society pianist/orchestra leader Mitch Kahn on piano and on August 13 and September 10, October 15, 2009, accompanied by Steve Bocchino on piano, on September 13, 2009, accompanied by Steve Lowenthal on piano, on September 28, 2009 (unaccompanied), on October 11, 18, 2009 (solos and accompanying singers), accompanied by Joe Utterback on piano , on Octobe 13, 2009, accompanied by Rich Campbell on piano; and will be playing at La Mediterranee on a continuing basis when in NYC.

Played at San Martin, NYC, on September 9, 2009, for the first annual "Lucky's Animal Fundraiser," with singer/actress Sandy Jordan and Diane Navarro, accompanied by Rachel Kaufman on piano. Also played at San Martin on October 17, 2009, accompanied by Ted Museo on piano.

Played at the Players Club, Grammercy Park in NYC, on September 28, 2009 ("Moon River," "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," and "Memory" from Cats - all unaccompanied).

Played at Caterina's, NYC, on October 10, 16, 17, November 14, 2009 (solos, including "Moon River," "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," and "If I Loved You" from Carousel, "Our Love Affair," etc.; also accompanied singers), accompanied by Jerry Scott on piano.

Played at Mimi's, NYC, on November 14, 2009 (standards, Broadway tunes, improvising, accompanying singers, etc.), with Steve Marshall on guitar.

Played at The Rum House at the Edison Hotel, NYC, on October 10, 13, 14, 2009 ("Moon River" and "I Left My Heart In San Francisco"), accompanied by Karen Brown on keyboard. On November 11, 2009 duetted and improvised with violinist/singer Diane Perry ("Summertime" and "Someone To Watch Over Me"), accompanied by Karen Brown on keyboard.

Played for a reception at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC on December 20, 2008 and for the 2009 Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala on May 13, 2009 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC with Miles Stiebel and his orchestra.

Returning to NYC December 11-23, 2009, to play at Birdland, the Algonquin Hotel, Butterfield 8, Nino's Tuscany, the Metropolitan Room, La Mediterranee, and Don't Tell Mama, etc. Also returning to NYC on November 18, 22, and 30 and December 2, 2009 to play at Nino's Tuscany, La Mediterranee, etc.

Always available for violin work (stage/pit orchestra, chamber music, solo, weddings, receptions, fund raisers, parties, session work, etc.) in the MD/DC/VA/NYC areas, etc.

As a sideline in music, I also have some vocal training, including lessons with Ray Hyson, former leading man on Broadway. Violin has always been my forte though. I sang with the Washington Oratorio Society under the direction of Robert Shafer for one year. As a member, I got the opportunity to perform under Margaret Hillis and Leonard Bernstein. Performing under Bernstein was an incredible experience!

www.myspace.com/carolynohlbaum
also listed at www.gopromusic.com
also listed in facebook

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Mark O'Connor's method books -- released this week -- teach students using many styles of American music. Enter to win a set of the books this week, on Violinist.com. Photo: Deanna Rose

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