Known for her creative arrangements and compositions, expressive vocals, and versatile violin playing, Dr. Kara Baxter is a musician whose work blends influences from jazz, classical, folk, and contemporary music. A violinist since the age of four, Kara grew up in a musical family where classical music, fiddling, singing, and songwriting were all part of everyday life.
Kara studied classical violin at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she discovered a passion for jazz. After earning her bachelor's degree, she moved to Chicago to pursue a master's degree in Jazz Voice and Commercial Music at Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts, studying with Mike Molloy and acclaimed artist Patricia Barber.
During her time in Chicago, Kara began composing, arranging, and writing original music. After returning to Nebraska, she joined the faculty at Doane University, where she taught jazz voice and directed the vocal jazz ensemble. She later earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Jazz Composition from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, studying with composer Eric Richards.
Since 2006, Kara has taught at the collegiate level at Doane University, Nebraska Wesleyan University, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Hastings College, and Casper College. She is also an active clinician for jazz festivals and school music programs, working with vocal ensembles, jazz bands, orchestras, chamber groups, and rhythm sections. Passionate about arts education, Kara is especially committed to expanding opportunities in jazz and strings for students throughout Nebraska and other rural communities.
As a performer, Kara appears with her jazz trio and quartet, serves as a guest soloist with big bands, orchestras, and choirs throughout the Midwest, and continues to freelance as both a vocalist and violinist. Her arrangements and original compositions have been performed by the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, JazzMN Orchestra, the Hastings Symphony Orchestra, the Powder River Symphony, and numerous school and collegiate ensembles.
Kara has released two recordings: Black Coffee, a jazz duo album with pianist Julia Andrews, and On This Journey, featuring QuinteCentral and the Kara Baxter Big Band. The latter includes her original suite for big band and five voices alongside imaginative arrangements of jazz standards.
In addition to performing, Kara maintains a select private teaching studio, working with students in violin, voice, improvisation, composition, arranging, and music theory.
Kara lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with her husband, Wes, their three sons, and an assortment of four-legged and finned family members.