Pianist SCOTT CARRELL has captivated audiences in the U.S., Europe and China with his virtuosic flair, expressive playing and informative comments, by presenting innovative programs of both classical and jazz works, including discussion of the works and the composers, and inter-disciplinary programs of music/literature, music/art, and mixed improvisation. A native of Texas, Carrell has performed numerous recitals as soloist and as collaborator, including concerto appearances with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, the Pine Bluff Symphony Orchestra, the Southwestern University Orchestra, the Plainview Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra, the Little Rock Wind Symphony, the New York Classical Players, and twice with the Harding University/Community Orchestra.

An active chamber musician, he co-founded the Searcy Chamber Music Series and has performed on many of its concerts. He has also performed in recital and small ensembles in Florence, Italy, and Mainz, Germany, and was the guest artist for the 2011 Robert Herrin Piano Festival at Texarkana College. In 2014, he was invited to Guangzhou, China, to perform a concert, to give lectures, and to teach piano students in masterclasses. He was the featured artist for the 2017 Scott Joplin Festival at Northwest Missouri State University, giving a recital, lecture and masterclass.

In 2005 his compact disc Crossings was released, including the world premiere recording of the title work, an original composition based on a painting by an Arkansas artist. The disc Ragtime Memories was released in 2007. Other recent premieres of original works include a “Suite for Brass Quintet” (2011), “Dance for Oboe and Piano” (2011), and “Conversation” (2015) for double-reed trio.

Carrell has spent much of his career exploring the music of French composers, with an emphasis on finding unknown masterpieces deserving recognition. This work has resulted in several all-French concerts and in the release in 2016 of the disc Piano Works of Noël Gallon, featuring world premiere recordings of music by a Paris Conservatory professor.

Receiving degrees from Southwestern University, the University of Illinois, and the D.M.A. from the University of North Texas, he studied with internationally-known artists Drusilla Huffmaster, Ian Hobson, and Vladimir Viardo, and participated in masterclasses with Abbey Simon, Gail Delente, and Dominique Merlet. The French Piano Institute awarded him a prize for the best performance of a work by Henri Dutilleux at the 1996 FPI Festival in Paris, France. He was twice honored with the Teacher Achievement Award from Harding University, for the 2003-2004 and 2012-2013 academic years.

An active member of the Arkansas State Music Teachers, he has presented sessions at both regional and state conferences and served as the state coordinator for the student composition competition; he began serving as the MTNA South Central Division coordinator in 2004. His judging activities include students at all levels, from local festivals to national competitions. Currently teaching piano, piano related courses, and music theory at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, Carrell is in demand as a soloist, collaborative artist, teacher and adjudicator.

Please visit Carrell’s website for more information and audio/video clips.