The Classical Voice of North Carolina described violist and violinist Dr. Kirsten Swanson as a “stunning musician with flawless technique combined with that unique ‘viola’ sound that can melt your soul.”  Feeling equally at ease with “new” and “old” music, in an orchestra or solo, Dr. Swanson enjoys a diverse career that has taken her all over the world.

A committed teacher, Kirsten has extensive training in many acclaimed pedagogical methods: including the Suzuki Method and the Rolland Method. She holds performance degrees in viola from the Eastman School of Music, the Longy School, and University of North Carolina at Greensboro, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Suzuki Violin Pedagogy from East Carolina University.

Equally at home teaching adults and young children, she has guest taught at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, Wake Forest University, Elon College, and Davidson College (’25-’26). She has been the adjunct professor of viola, violin, and chamber music at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte for over a decade and teaches privately out of her home violin and viola studio, Charlotte Suzuki Strings. She has recently spearheaded the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra’s Bridge Program: a bilingual beginning strings class for preschoolers, kindergartners and first graders.
Starting in the fall of 2025, she is honored to be joining the string faculty of the North Carolina Youth Orchestra.

An experienced chamber musician, Dr. Swanson has collaborated with such artists as Schlomo Mintz, Garth Knox, Jon Nakamatsu, and members of the JACK, Pacifica, and Ciompi String Quartets. As an orchestral musician, she has won positions in the Winston-Salem Symphony and Greensboro Symphonies and has played full-time as a section member and titled member with the North Carolina and Charlotte Symphonies, respectively.