About
Oksana McCarthy was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Inspired by her mother, a professional cellist, she began her studies at age six. At seven, Ms. McCarthy, was accepted to the Uspenskiy SpecialMusic School for Gifted Children where she studied under Professor Olga Plotnikova from 1990 to 2001.
At age thirteen Oksana became a principal cellist at the ” Young Talents of Uzbekistan”Chamber Orchestra and two years later was again principal cellist of the” Singing Strings” Chamber Orchestra which toured Moscow, Russia and Baku, Azerbaijan. Upon graduation from the Uspenskiy Spacial Music School for Gifted Children, she performed Eduard Lalo’s Concerto for cello and orchestra with Uzbekistan National Philharmonic Orchestra under Maestro Vladimir Neimer.
After entering the Ashrafi Conservatory in Tashkent, Uzbekistan where she studied for two years with Professor Atham Mansirev, she was accepted to the prestigious University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich, Germany where she studied with Professor Rainer Ginzel.
Belgium- Brussels Concert Hall Bazaar, Switzerland, France, Netherlands-Amsterdam Concert Gebouw Concert Hall, Germany-Munich Philharmonic Concert Hall, Herkules Concert Hall, the Berlin Concert House concert hall, Hamburg, Bremen, Wuppertal, Dresden, Hanover, Essen, Baden Baden, Nurnberg, Dortmund, Trier, Bamberg, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Lubek, Manheim, Luxemburg, and Strasburg.Salzburg, Austria’s Festspiele House Concert Hall with Maxim Vengerov, Zakhar Bron and Vadim Repin violin, Poland, Warsaw, The New Symphony Hall in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria with Yuriy Bashmet viola, Viktor Tret’yakov violin and Justus Frantz Piano, Australia, 43 concerts: The Sydney Opera House concert hall, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Albury, The Blue Mountains, Newcastle, Charters Tower, Port Lincoln, and Hobart in Tasmanian Island. Norway, 36 concerts: Bergen, Drammen, Egersund, Grimstad, Haugesund, Hammerfest, Kristiansan, Larvik,
Oslo, Sadefjord, Stavanger. Canada, 24 concerts: Alberta-Calgary, Edmonton; British Columbia-Armstrong, Colwood, Duncan, Vancouver, Victoria, Edmondson,; Ontario, Belleville, Brantford, Kitchener, London, Niagara Falls, Oshawa, Ottawa, Toronto; Quebec, Montreal. Spain, 22 concerts: Madrid, Valencia, Seville, Malaga, Torre Malines, St. Maria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Cadiz, Cordoba, Rioja, Alicante.Upon graduation from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich, Germany she accepted a full scholarship to Lynn University Conservatory of Music, of Boca Raton, Florida, into the Professional Performance Certificate Program and then the Master of Music program where she studied with Professor David Cole.
Ms. McCarthy has attended master classes with renowned cellists Karine Georgian and a master course, House Marteau, led by Reiner Ginzel. In October 2007, Oksana attended a master class instructed by Nina Kotova and Orlando Cole, in 2009, Oksana attended a master class with Professor Peter Wiley.
Upon graduation of Lynn University, Oksana relocated to Charlotte North Carolina where she quickly became one of the city’s most respected and sought after cellists.
Oksana has played regularly with both the Charlotte Symphony and Union Symphony Orchestra. In addition, Oksana has played all of Charlotte’s premier theaters for a variety of theater productions and concerts.
Oksana also opened a music studio where she quickly developed a reputation as one of the area’s foremost cellist teachers. Including her time in North Carolina, Oksana has been teaching cello for over a decade abroad and in the U.S. Oksana’s students have gone on to receive scholarships to various schools including the University of South Carolina and UNCC.
In 2012, Oksana founded Carolina Royal Strings. Today, CRS is Charlotte’s premier string ensemble booked well into 2017.
Oksana is often invited to judge a variety of youth orchestra auditions as well as competitions.
Oksana balances her passion for music and cello with her dedication as a Mommy and wife. With her free time Oksana loves exploring Charlotte’s parks and museums or hiking through North Carolina’s beautiful mountains. Oksana also enjoys photography, interior design, cooking, traveling and discovering new culture. Oksana speaks fluent Russian, English and German.