Title: 1) Retired Music Faculty; 2) Performing Violinist and Violist
Company: 1) Notre Dame de Namur University
Location: Gig Harbor, Washington, United States
Carol Kutsch, MMus, Retired Music Faculty at Notre Dame de Namur University and Performing Violinist and Violist, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Musical Performance and Education.
Ms. Kutsch’s distinguished career as a performing violinist, violist, educator and coach has spanned six decades, marked by a profound commitment to both performance and education. Following retirement from her full-time role, she has, in recent years, continued to share her expertise through private instruction in Gig Harbor and Tacoma, Washington, offering lessons to students of all ages and backgrounds. Ms. Kutsch’s teaching philosophy centers on adapting to the unique needs of each individual, fostering growth in beginners, college students and adult learners alike. Despite relocating to an area with established traditions of learning by ear, Ms. Kutsch emphasizes the importance of music notation, believing it is essential for unlocking a musician’s full potential.
From 2014 to 2019, Ms. Kutsch served as a member of the music faculty at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California. In this role, she contributed to the academic and artistic development of aspiring musicians, drawing upon her extensive experience as both performer and educator. Ms. Kutsch’s tenure at the university was characterized by a dedication to nurturing talent and encouraging musical excellence.
Ms. Kutsch’s orchestral performance history is notable for its breadth and depth. She has performed regularly with the San Francisco Opera Center Orchestra, serving as an assistant concertmaster during nearly a decade of East Coast tours that brought live opera to communities from Madison, Wisconsin, to Florida. These tours required adaptability and resilience, with performances in diverse venues, some so uniquely designed that musicians had to crawl into the orchestra pit. Ms. Kutsch’s work with the orchestra provided invaluable experiences and lasting memories.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Kutsch held concurrent lecturer positions at Loma Linda University, the University of Redlands and the University of California, Riverside, from 1975 to 1987. During this period, she also performed as a violinist in faculty piano trios at these institutions, collaborating with esteemed musicians, such as Louis Kievman, Eleanor Schonfeld, Claire Hodgkins, Nancy Bricard and Andor Toth. Ms. Kutsch’s chamber music engagements reflect her devotion to collaborative artistry. Moreover, her credentials have extended to distinguished service as a coach at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s junior division and as a Yehudi Menuhin faculty member at The Nueva School for 25 years.
A founding member and first concertmistress of the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, Ms. Kutsch’s orchestral affiliations are extensive and have included the Los Angeles Early Music Academy, the Claremont Opera, the San Jose Symphony, the Opera San Jose and the Masterworks Chorale Orchestra. Additionally, she has performed in numerous church concerts and was a longtime member of the Monterey Jazz Festival Chamber Orchestra.
Ms. Kutsch’s academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in music from Pacific Union College in Angwin in 1972 and a master’s degree in violin and viola performance from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles in 1974. Active professionally, she is a member of the Musicians’ Union. Civically engaged, Ms. Kutsch supports charitable organizations through donations and is an active supporter of her local church community. For many years, she has also served as a concertmaster for the Herbert Blomstedt International Conducting and Symphonic Workshop and has been a competition judge for the American String Teachers Association and the Music Teachers National Association, contributing significantly to the broader music community.
Ms. Kutsch’s creative output includes recordings such as “Lou Harrison, A Birthday Celebration” for the Musical Heritage Society, “New Moon” chamber work, multiple recordings at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco and Menlo Church in Menlo Park, projects with The Women’s Philharmonic under JoAnn Falletta, and participation in “The Four Immigrants: A Musical Anime” with TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. She has also written articles about music and compiled humorous anecdotes reflecting on the peculiarities of life as a musician.
Ms. Kutsch is recognized for her achievements as a concertmaster, a role she regards as her most notable accomplishment, and for her individualized approach to teaching that prioritizes student growth over rigid adherence to traditional systems. Recognized early on, she was a Soloist Winner with the Napa Symphony in 1973. She was also a finalist at the Coleman Chamber Music Auditions at the California Institute of Technology.
Crediting her success to the exceptional mentorship of Jenny Rudin, who instilled not only technical proficiency but also a deep understanding of musical concepts that have shaped her teaching philosophy, Ms. Kutsch was also influenced by her family’s musical heritage. In her free time, she enjoys playing violin and viola and engaging in various creative projects, such as stained-glass art and gardening. She remains committed to performing and teaching within her community while continuing to share her passion for music with future generations.
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