Praised for her “excellent musicianship” (Talkin’ Broadway) and “stunning and emotionally evocative playing” (Cherry and Spoon), Dr. Carson Rose Schneider is a versatile pianist and vocal coach who has been active for over 15 years in the Twin Cities, and has performed across the United States and Europe as a recitalist.  Currently based in Minneapolis, she is at home playing with vocalists and instrumentalists and works with duo partners,  chamber music, opera companies, and choirs.  Comfortable in a variety of roles,  Carson has a natural, authentic playing style and connects in a way that makes audiences feel understood.  

As an opera pianist, she has collaborated on numerous projects as a Music Director, Chorus Director, and Repetiteur.  Most recently, she was Chorus Director for an exciting production of Suor Angelica staged in the Basilica of St Mary with Out of the Box Opera in Minneapolis.  Passionate about performing works by living composers,  she frequently works with Nautilus Music Theatre in the workshopping of newer works on the Rough Cuts series. She recently served as Music Director for Lyric Opera of the North’s Speed Dating, Tonight where she led the production from the piano. She was Music Director of Skylark Opera Theatre on several projects including Three Decembers, an English adaptation of Eugene Onegin, Amahl and the Night Visitors, and The Most Happy Fella.  Additionally, she has been seen performing with Skylark Opera Theatre, Nautilus Music Theatre, Lyric Opera of the North, Out of the Box Opera, An Opera Theatre (AOT), Journey North Opera, St Croix Valley Opera, Really Spicy Opera, Schubert Club, and Twin Cities Opera Guild.  She finds inspiration in close collaboration with local artists, both in the pit and as a conductor.  She is praised for her warm touch, thoughtful collaboration, positive energy and ability to connect and inspire both professional musicians and audiences.

Her first love and main drive in pursuing classical music as a career was chamber music.  In 2023, she initiated a summer chamber music concert in Red Wing, MN which grew to become Lake Pepin Chamber Music, an organization of friends bringing adventurous programs of high quality chamber music to audiences in southern Minnesota. She is now co-Artistic Director where she assists primarily with the concert curation, which includes works by living and underrepresented composers alongside audience favorites.  This season the organisation has several high profile grants including one from the Wings Foundation to fund three more programs in Red Wing. The group is known for connecting with audiences in meaningful storytelling and bringing unusual combinations of instruments and vocalists together.

She is passionate about music education and values the importance of introducing children to opera and classical music at a young age who may otherwise not have had the opportunity. She has been a member of several opera outreach tours around the United States including the Schmidt Opera Outreach Program (affiliated with University of Kentucky), Fargo-Moorhead Opera, Virginia Opera, and Lyric Opera of the North. Additionally, she has held teaching and staff positions at Eastern Kentucky University, University of Minnesota, Bay View Music Festival, and is currently on the summer staff at St Croix Valley Opera and the Wesley Balk Institute.

Currently Dr. Schneider offers vocal coaching in her private studio.  She is passionate about encouraging singers to really dig deeper beyond the surface level and to discover how their repertoire shows their unique artist identity.  Known for her warm and collaborative approach, she quickly helps singers feel relaxed and supported in the rehearsal room, and empowers them to experiment with different ideas and go deeper into the text.  She creates  a safe and trusting environment where students are empowered to try new things.

Carson provides studio services for classical musicians including professional recording services, both video and audio, vocal coaching, as well as piano lessons and mentoring for advanced students.  She not only plays but also handles all the recording equipment and post-processing.  She believes recording is an under-utilized skill in the artistic process that can aid in not only self-teaching but also self-discovery and artistic growth, along with developing a social media presence as a classical musician.

Additionally, Dr. Schneider is also the Director of Music at Union Congregational Church United Church of Christ in Elk River. She holds a Bachelors of Music from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, a Masters of Music in piano from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Doctorate of Music in collaborative piano and coaching from the University of Minnesota.  She lives in the Twin Cities with her husband Mike, daughter Sophie and cat Merlin.