Mary Jo Carlsen

Areas of Expertise

• Violin
• Viola
• Baroque violin

Personal Information

Mary Jo Carlsen, originally from Montana, earned her degrees from the University of Washington, then moved to New York, where she freelanced while studying with Itzhak Perlman. She has performed with the Festival dei Due Mondi in Charleston, S.C., and in Spoleto, Italy. Mary Jo is currently a recitalist in the New England area on violin, viola, and Baroque violin, performing music from the Renaissance through the 21st century. She performs with the Portland Symphony, the Portland Opera Repertory Theatre, the Bangor Symphony, and many chamber groups. Recently she was a featured performer at both the Storm King Music Festival in upstate New York and the Florida Electroaccoustic Music Festival. At Colby College since 1985, Mary Jo teaches violin and viola, coaches chamber music, and is concertmaster of the Colby Symphony. She has recorded for Capstone Records and Telarc.