Dr. Sigrid Karlstrom enjoys a career as a violinist and violist, chamber musician, Suzuki teacher, and school orchestra director based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 2024, she founded Violapalooza NM, a workshop and concert that brought together 50 professional and student violists from all over the state.

 

Her doctoral research and interest in contemporary works and works by underrepresented composers culminated in two albums of pieces for viola and piano by the American composers Marion Bauer, Vivian Fine and Miriam Gideon. A portion of this research is published as a “Foreword” to the American Composer Alliance’s edition of Miriam Gideons Sonata for Viola and Piano. Dr. Karlstrom's performance of the Marion Bauer Sonata for Viola and Piano, op. 22 was featured on the American Viola Society’s “Emerging Artists” recital in 2019. From 2013-2017, she played as a tenured member of the New Mexico Philharmonic viola section, also working during this time as assistant principal viola for Opera Southwest and chamber musician for the Chatter Chamber Series. Sigrid graduated on full merit scholarship with a DMA from The Hartt School.

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Currently orchestra director at Jackson and Cleveland Middle Schools in Albuquerque, Sigrid is also an active individual instructor, and especially enjoys working with young Suzuki students and motivated older violists. Her 15 years of teaching experience include lessons for children, teens, and adults through her own studio in Albuquerque as well as the Neighborhood Music School (New Haven, CT), Suzuki School of Westport (CT), Eugene Youth Symphony Program (OR), and University of New Mexico Lab School.

 

Sigrid is currently serving as Secretary for the NM American String Teachers Association chapter. She has several articles published in the ASTA journal, Journal of the American Viola Society, and Suzuki Association of the Americas Journal. She also served as music reviewer for the American String Teacher's Association Journal.

 

Sigrid’s teacher training is extensive and encompasses the pedagogies of Shinichi Suzuki, Ivan Galamian, Michiko Yurko, Paul Rolland, and John Kendall. She completed Suzuki long-term training, violin books 1-10, with Susan Kempter at the University of New Mexico and later finished additional long-term training (violin books 1-6) with Christie Felsing at The Hartt School. She also registered short-term viola training, books 2-7, with Elizabeth Stuen-Walker, violin and viola practicum courses, and Suzuki Early Childhood training. She is endorsed in Paul Rolland pedagogy, level 1, through the Paul Rolland Society, and completed Music Mind Games training, Level 1, with Michiko Yurko.