Meet Kate Carter, violinist

Meet Kate Carter, violinist with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra.

Kate Carter, a skilled violinist with a doctorate degree in music from Northwestern University, is excited to join the Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s first violin section.

“It’s so wonderful to join these very talented and accomplished musicians, many of whom are dear colleagues whom I've played with in other capacities,” she said.

Kate is also a member of the Chicago Philharmonic and regularly performs with the Lyric Opera Orchestra and the Joffrey Ballet. She has received critical acclaim for two albums with her violin and piano ensemble Blue Violet Duo, which has performed on series including the Dame Myra Hess concerts broadcast live on WFMT-FM, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s “Overture Council,” and at Weill Hall in New York.

When she’s not performing, she teaches violin and viola at North Park University and the Northwestern University Music Academy.  

Here are some fun facts about Kate:

When did you start playing the violin?

I started playing the violin at age seven, after begging my parents for lessons for years.

What is your favorite piece to play?

This is such a hard question! If you ask me next week, I'm sure I'll have a different answer, but right now I'll say my favorite is anything by Tchaikovsky, maybe because I'm currently playing The Nutcracker.

What do you like most about playing in front of a live audience?

I love the feeling of connection, and the often palpable energy and excitement that I sense when there's a live audience. After all, this is why I do what I do!