Kari Giles
Assistant Concertmaster
Kari Giles became Assistant Concertmaster of the Charlotte Symphony in 2006. Growing up in western North Carolina, she received both her High School and Bachelor of Music degrees from the North Carolina School of the Arts under the tutelage of Elaine Richey. Giles later earned her master's degree in Chamber Music Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and continued her studies at the University of Minnesota. Her major influences include former Concertmaster of the Minnesota Orchestra Jorja Fleezanis, Robert Mann of the Juilliard Quartet, and Mark Sokol of the Concord Quartet.
Giles is passionate about chamber music and enjoys curating programs that feature local composers, diverse styles, and collaborations with other art forms. She has been seen and heard on the stages of Blumenthal Broadway Lights, Charlotte New Music, Festival of India, Boom Festival, Tosco Music Party, The Evening Muse, and Charlotte Folk Society. During the pandemic, she was an organizer for WDAV's "Noteworthy" concert series: a collaboration that sought to build connections between the Classical community in Charlotte and local Black and Brown artists from a range of genres. During this process, musicians brought their own unique skills and voices together to create new works. Giles is also a founding member of The Charlotte Strings Collective. This group honors the work of Black composers through performance and education, and is made up of performers, teachers, alumni, and students from across the Charlotte region.
As an educator, Giles maintains a small private studio, serves as Adjunct Professor of Violin at Winthrop University, and coaches with the Youth Orchestras of Charlotte. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and baking, walking the Greenway with her family, and playing Irish fiddle.
What piece made you fall in love with music?
All of them. From the "simplest" folk song to the immense intricacies of a Mahler symphony, there is always something to discover. Each piece leads you into an entirely new world.
What's an interesting tidbit about how you chose your instrument?
There was a Suzuki violin teacher up the street from our house. I remember my mom asking me if I wanted to play violin, and I was like, "Sure, why not?" I don't remember really knowing what the violin was beforehand, but I loved it instantly.
What do you hope audiences feel during a performance?
Connected. No matter what we are each experiencing in the moment, we are all experiencing it together. It is a beautiful and powerful thing.
