Artistic Staff

Carol Stephenson, Winds Coach, American Youth Philharmonic®

Carol Stephenson served as assistant principal oboe of the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, D.C. for 27 years.  Her teachers included Ray Still, former principal oboe of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Marc Fink, professor of oboe, University of Wisconsin, Madison.  She received her Bachelor of Music degree in oboe performance from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.  She attended the Aspen Music Festival during college, where she was co-principal oboe of the Aspen Chamber Orchestra, studying with Robert Bloom and Richard Woodhams. 

Prior to joining the National Symphony Orchestra, she performed with the New York String Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and was principal oboe in the Chicago Civic Orchestra and the Chicago Chamber Orchestra.  As soloist she has appeared with the Eclipse Chamber Orchestra as well as with the National Symphony Orchestra and Virginia Chamber Orchestra.  In addition, she has taught extensively, working with the National Symphony  Orchestra's Youth Fellowship program as well as the American Youth Philharmonic and Virginia Youth Symphony.  She has presented master classes throughout the country during the National Symphony's residency programs as well as at the University of Wisconsin, Madison's "Women in the Arts" Festival and the Masterworks Festival in New York.