A native Calgarian, Carmen obtained a Bachelor of Music in violin performance from the University of Calgary. She pursued her studies at the Toronto Conservatory and in Oxford, England. Since returning to Calgary she has been active as a professional violinist, playing with orchestras and chamber groups in and around Calgary. She is a member of the Red Deer Symphony. She has also played with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the touring orchestras of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and National Ballet, the Festival Chorus, Calgary Opera, Banff opera, the Lethbridge Symphony, The Bach Society Orchestra, the Festival Chorus, the Bow Valley Chorus, the Allegra String Quartet, and the Calgary Children’s Choir orchestra. As a freelance performer she has been fortunate to perform in back up orchestras for visiting artists such as Diana Krall, Anne Murray, Tony Bennet, Amy Grant and Christopher Plummer to name a few. Carmen also has a private teaching studio.