Teaching Artist Spotlight- Carol Winston

Originally from San Francisco, soprano, Carol Winston, studied at University of California, Santa Barbara, where she received her B.A. in Music.

Carol has performed and toured nationally with the Pasadena based Gilbert and Sullivan company Opera a la Carte. Roles include “Mabel” in The Pirates of Penzance, “Yum-Yum” in The Mikado, “Gianetta” in The Gondoliers and “Laeticia” in The Zoo.

She has sung “Zerlina” in Don Giovanni for Repertory Opera Company. Recently she sang the role of “Duchess Carolina” in the popular Zarzuela Luisa Fernanda at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica.

Solo concert work includes Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mozart’s, Exultate Jubilate, the Mozart Requiem, the Mozart Vespers, the Beethoven Chorale Fantasy, the Bruckner Te Deum and Vivaldi’s Beatus Vir with the Laguna Beach Chorale. Carol was the soprano soloist for Ballet San Jose in a ballet version of The Pirates of Penzance.

She has worked with Los Angeles Opera, Opera Pacific, Southland Sings, Guild Opera and Orange County Opera in their outreach programs for students, singing such diverse roles as “Little Red Riding Hood” (by Seymour Barab), “Marie” (Daughter of the Regiment), “Gretel” (Hansel and Gretel) and “Ginger” (The Night Harry Stopped Smoking). She originated the title role of “Estrella” in Guild Opera’s bilingual children’s opera and has performed in Zarzuelas with the Jarvis Conservatory in Napa.

Carol began teaching voice and piano in earnest about four years ago. Her studio includes children as young as six to adults over 60. Drawing on her own experiences learning to sing and read music has helped her relate to her beginning students’ concerns. Carol finds teaching fulfilling when her students are able to utilize techniques they have worked on together. “Once in a while I’ll get a new, very beginning student and I’ll think ‘Oh, dear, they have no idea what I’m talking about; I don’t think they’ll be able to get it.’ But, they come back the next week having practiced and amaze me with their improvement.”

Carol has worked with Southland Sings as an outreach performer for many years. This has enabled her to work with elementary age children. Thus, transitioning into teaching this age group has worked well.

Carol has performed for children with disabilities and recently began teaching these students. Watching their growth as they improve musically and have more confidence has been very rewarding.