Kentucky native, Carey Skinner, was raised in a musical family and began studying violin at just two years old. Falling in love with its sonorous sounds, she switched to viola at age eleven. In 2011, she joined the studio of Ivo-Jan van der Werff at Rice University where she earned her Bachelor of Music with an award for Distinction in Research and Creative Works. This award was earned primarily through work with her contemporary ensemble Meraki which collaborates with young composers and seeks to bridge the gap between traditional and modern performance.
Carey is graduating in May 2017 with her Masters in Viola Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music where she studies with Lynne Ramsey. As an avid chamber performer, she joined her colleagues of the Coventry String Quartet as the Quartet In Residence for Steamboat Springs Strings Festival in 2016.
Outside of the practice room, she enjoys her work as a Research Services Supervisor in the Robinson Music Library, teaching violin and viola in various local schools, and performing around the city with the unique and vibrant community created by Classical Revolution Cleveland.