About Holly Blackwelder Carpenter

Holly Blackwelder Carpenter began studying the violin at the age of 5, under the instruction of Kathleen Spring.  In addition to private lessons, Mrs. Blackwelder Carpenter was involved in grade school orchestra from the age of 8.  

In Academy she joined the Walla Walla Symphony as a section violinist. Mrs. Blackwelder Carpenter continued her studies at Walla Walla College under the instruction of Dr. Susan Pickett at Whitman College.  She began teaching in 1995 in the Walla Walla Suzuki String Program, under Kathleen Spring.  

Mrs. Blackwelder Carpenter taught with the Walla Walla Suzuki String Program until her graduation in 2000 from Walla Walla College with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Theology.  In addition to teaching in the Walla Walla Suzuki String Program, Mrs. Blackwelder Carpenter spent the Academic Year of 1997-1998 at the Universidad Peruana Union, near Lima, Peru, where she started, administrated and taught a violin program in the music department of the University.  Upon her return from Peru in 1998, Mrs. Blackwelder Carpenter was appointed principal second chair in the Walla Walla Symphony, a position she held until her graduation in June of 2000.  

Mrs. Blackwelder Carpenter also held the position of concert master for the Youth Ensemble Cantabile from 1995-1997.  She also played with the Austin Civic Orchestra from 2003-2005 and currently is a first violinist with the Rainier Symphony Orchestra in the Seattle area. Mrs. Blackwelder Carpenter founded and maintained the 38 1/2 Street Violin Studio in Austin, Texas from 2003-2006.  Mrs. Blackwelder Carpenter also holds a Master of Arts in Old Testament Studies from Andrews University and a Master of Arts in Hebrew Language and Literature from the University of Texas at Austin.