Carolina Perez 

Carolina Perez, from Cary, NC, is an Instructor of Music at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM), where she teaches Wind Ensemble, Jazz, and Music Theory. She holds a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting and a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). While studying at UNCG, Ms. Perez served as graduate conductor for the university’s three concert bands, the graduate chamber ensemble, and the UNCG Pep Band, as well as a university supervisor for pre-service student teachers. Prior to her graduate studies at UNCG, Ms. Perez spent six years as a band director in the public schools of North Carolina, where she led successful concert and marching ensembles at the middle school and high school levels. As an educator, she is passionate about building community with students, using nonverbal communication to enhance musical performances, studying and performing the music of diverse cultures and underrepresented composers, connecting music with other academic disciplines, and creating unique performance opportunities for her students. She actively serves in various leadership roles for the North Carolina Music Educators Association and the North Carolina Bandmasters Association, and is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the National Band Association, Women Band Directors International, and Sigma Alpha Iota. Outside of music, her interests include traveling, cooking, hiking, playing disc golf, and playing with her dog Elli.