Caroline Goulding
Biography

"A precociously gifted virtuoso. Indeed, although Goulding is still in her mid-teens, she's already a violinist of impressive technical polish and musical maturity..." -Gramophone 

“The vibrant and intensely musical Cleveland violinist Caroline Goulding… makes her compact-disc debut with a marvelous recital of virtuoso morsels. Her playing blends refinement with technical flair, lifting every phrase to exhilarating heights…” –Donald Rosenberg, The Plain Dealer

“Playing of fantastic style and flair, with an extraordinary virtuosity that always serves the character of the music.  A violinist you must hear!” –Peter Oundjian, Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra

At seventeen, violinist Caroline Goulding has already performed as a soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Cincinnati Pops, Cleveland Pops, Aspen Concert Orchestra and the International Symphony Orchestra, to name a few.

Caroline Goulding was a First Prize winner in the 2009 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, where she was also awarded the Slomovic Orchestra Soloist Prize and the Buffalo Chamber Music Society Prize.  Next season, Ms. Goulding will be presented by YCA in recital debuts in New York, sponsored by the Rhoda Walker Teagle Concert Prize, and Washington, DC in the Young Concert Artists Series, as well as in Boston at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

Along with her appearances both as orchestral soloist and in recital, Caroline has appeared on NBC’s “Today,” National Public Radio’s “From the Top,” PBS’s “From the Top: Live from Carnegie Hall,” Sirius Satellite Radio, WNYC New York, CosmoGirl Online and the “Martha Show,” hosted by Martha Stewart.  Recently, Caroline was featured on Maestro Erich Kunzel’s last recording From the Top at the Pops.

After winning the coveted first prize of the Aspen Music Festival’s Concerto Competition, at age 13, Alan Fletcher, President and CEO of the Aspen Music Festival and School said of Caroline, “Here was freshness, confidence, radiant technique and perfect optimism wrapped in sparkling beauty.” Caroline was later to be awarded first prize in the 2009-2010 Young Concert Artists International Audition held in New York and is currently the youngest artist on their roster.  In the coming season, Young Concert Artists will present Caroline in recital in Boston, Washington, DC and New York City.
 
August 2009 marked the international release of Ms. Goulding’s debut recording on the Telarc label. Included in Billboard Classical’s Top 15, the recording received a Grammy nomination for Best Solo Instrumentalist (without orchestra) and rave reviews from venerable names in the classical music industry: according to violinist Jaime Laredo, “This is an amazing CD! …Caroline Goulding is one of the most gifted & musically interesting violinists I have heard in a long time; her playing is heartfelt & dazzling throughout.”  Composer John Corigliano, whose Red Violin Caprices she recorded, said, “I wondered why I had never heard of this very special performer. Now I know – she’s 16. But at that age, she gives a totally individual interpretation to my music. I think she will shortly become a very famous young woman and only hope that she gives my other violin works a glance.” 

Aside from her career as a concert soloist Caroline has made appearances with eminent artists such as Béla Fleck, Anton Nel, Wendy Warner, Umberto Clerici and Elaine Douvas and recently performed her CD Release Showcase in New York’s popular music hot spot Le Poisson Rouge with CD-partner Christopher O’Riley. 

Caroline began studying the violin at the age of three-and-a-half under the tutelage of Julia Kurtyka and continues her studies with renowned violin pedagogue Paul Kantor at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She has attended the Aspen Music Festival and School, the Starling-Delay Symposium hosted at the Juilliard School, the Interlochen Center for the Arts and The Ceilidh Trail School of Celtic Music on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.

A past recipient of the Stradivari Society, Caroline currently plays the General Kyd Stradivarius (c 1720), courtesy of Jonathan Moulds. 

Praise for Caroline Goulding from Colleagues and Critics

"A precociously gifted virtuoso. Indeed, although Goulding is still in her mid-teens, she's already a violinist of impressive technical polish and musical maturity..." -Gramophone 

“Listening to violinist Caroline Goulding’s new solo disc on Telarc, you might think she was an artist with extensive seasoning. In several crucial ways, she is. She’s performed concertos with major orchestras, appeared on national radio and television shows and collaborated with some of the world’s most esteemed artists.” – Musical America

“[Goulding] was cool and focused as she walked out in a drop-dead red gown with her centuries-old Amati violin. Her performance of Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 was clear and captivating.  She wears the music well, sort of the way she wears the gown. She seems born to it, comfortable with it.  Nothing seems strained. She sailed through the first movement, the sound from the Amati delicate but assertive. The slow movement sang, brimming with bittersweet Mozartean romance.  As the fiery “Turkish” interlude began, it was as if Goulding took on a new personality. She played up the contrast so nicely.  Low-key though the ending is, much of the hall gave her a standing ovation. Goulding is still only 17. It will be fascinating to see what awaits this girl in the future.” –Mary Kunz Goldman, The Buffalo News

"Caroline Goulding is a remarkable young artist.  I had no idea she was 16 when I heard her recording of my "Red Violin Caprices", and wondered why I never heard of this very special performer. Now I know - she's 16.  But at that age, she gives a totally individual interpretation to my music. She is so musical. And the technique - well, we won't go into that - it's so brilliant. I think she will shortly become a very famous young woman, and only hope she gives my other violin works a glance.  Bravo Caroline!" –John Corigliano 

“Playing of fantastic style and flair, with an extraordinary virtuosity that always serves the character of the music. A violinist you must hear!” –Peter Oundjian 

“This is an AMAZING CD!!  A great collection of some rarely heard gems played with stunning beauty! Caroline Goulding is one of the most gifted & musically interesting violinists I have heard in a long time; her playing is heartfelt & dazzling throughout.” –Jaime Laredo  

“The vibrant and intensely musical Cleveland violinist Caroline Goulding, still a teenager, makes her compact-disc debut with a marvelous recital of virtuoso morsels. Her playing blends refinement with technical flair, lifting every phrase to exhilarating heights, and she has a superb artistic teammate in pianist Christopher O’Riley” –The Plain Dealer 
“The outstanding 17-year-old violinist, Caroline Goulding…brought a slender but gleaming tone and dazzling technique to Mozart's D major Violin Concerto (K. 218). This was also playing of lively personality and suave inflection.” – Dallas Morning News
“Goulding, herself just 16 years old, displayed the poise and sheer veracity of technique of a veteran soloist.  She drew exceptionally light, supple, articulated tone from her instrument, spinning out flurries of notes with spot-on intonation and superb judgment of how much weight to give to each phrase.  The control at the tip of her bow, coupled with the brilliance of her attack and her spicatto effects, made this an experience worth savoring.” –Andrew Adler, Courier Journal 

“The second installment of Sinfonia’s new “Classical Connections” featured the return of Caroline Goulding, whose performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s famous “Concerto for Violin in E, Op. 64,” instantaneously brought the audience to their feet.  A poised and elegant Ms. Goulding joined Sinfonia and Maestro Fuller in an exhilarating performance of one of classical music’s most beloved concertos.  Ms. Goulding exemplified the grace and musical breadth of a master artist, whose Amati violin, which dates to 1617, filled Grace Lutheran Church with a full tapestry of sound and technical clarity.” –Destin Magazine  

“Here was freshness, confidence, radiant technique and perfect optimism wrapped in sparkling beauty.” –Alan Fletcher, President and CEO of the Aspen Music Festival and School 

“Caroline Goulding is a brilliant talent, one who is destined for greatness.” –Geoffrey Fushi, President of The Stradivari Society