Caroline Nordlund is a lecturer at Samford University where she teaches string methods, instrumental pedagogy, and performs in the Samford Orchestra and faculty Samford String Quartet.

As an orchestral musician, Caroline has performed with the Alabama Symphony, Charleston Symphony, Tuscaloosa Symphony, Northwest Indiana Symphony, Augusta Symphony, and SC Philharmonic, among others. She has taught at the Lutheran Summer Music Festival and the Samford University Piano and Chamber Music Institute. She is the former director of the Scrollworks Youth Music School in Birmingham and has also served as the President of the Alabama chapter of the American String Teachers Association. Along with her husband Samuel, Caroline is a member of String Theory Birmingham, an instrumental pop group that plays an eclectic mix of originals and modern music arranged for string quartet, bass, and drums.

In addition to teaching and performing, Caroline is an active adjudicator and presenter, giving sessions at the Alabama Music Educators Conference and the National American String Teachers Association Conference. Her article on teaching group violin classes was featured in the “Ask the Experts” column of The Strad.

Recognizing a need for a local strings music camp in the Birmingham area, Caroline founded the Encore Strings Summer Academy in 2018. Strings students are able to join together for a week of ensemble rehearsal and performance, coached by the Samford String Quartet.

Caroline earned a Master of Music in violin performance and pedagogy from Northwestern University as a student of Gerardo Ribeiro, Jim Kjelland, and Stacia Spencer. She has attended the Meadowmount School of Music, Aspen Music Festival and School, Spoleto U.S.A. and Sewanee Summer Music Festivals. Originally from Hartsville, South Carolina, Caroline graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Music in violin performance.