We were lucky to catch up with Oksana McCarthy recently and have shared our conversation below.

Oksana, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The first time I took a risk in life was when I was 19 years old. Being born and raised in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, I realized as a young child that living there and having a successful musical career would not work for me and for the future in a way I envisioned. When I was 19, I was offered an opportunity to try out to study in Munich, Germany. Back then it sounded so surreal, because I didn’t speak German and I would be all alone, also I would have to make my own living since my family could not support me. I took a risk and I applied to go and audition for the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich. I auditioned and I got in. There were only three spots available and out of 25 people auditioning I was one of the chosen.

When I arrived to study in Munich, there were a lot of challenges, new language, culture shock and not to mention I was so home sick. Not to go into much detail… Over time I’ve met people and made great friends. It took me a year and a half to become fluent in German and feel comfortable. Making a living in a foreign country, however, was not easy at all. Taking odd jobs and playing the occasional gig, allowed me to eat.
After some time, I made great connections and was invited to work with numerous orchestras including symphony and chamber orchestras. I began traveling the world touring and performing on world stages as a student in Munich. I performed extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia, appearing at Sydney Opera House, Berlin Concert Hall, Munich Philharmonic Hall, Hercules Hall, The Concertgebouw, and Festspielhaus. I have performed with Chamber Ensemble tours in numerous cities of countries: Belgium, Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Germany, Luxemburg, Austria, Poland, Gran Canarian, Australia, Norway, Canada, Spain, Italy, Russia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan. I’ve shared the stage with world renown musicians such as Maxim Vengerov, Zakhar Bron, Vadim Repin, Yuri Bashmet, and Viktor Tretyakov, Andrea Bocelli, Renee Fleming, Kristin Chenoveth and Rhiannon Giddens, also David Bowe’s band, and many more…
When I decided to continue my studies, I applied to audition for the Lynn University Conservatory of music in Florida USA. I was accepted to work on my Master’s degree and in 2006 I came to study in the USA. As you can imagine I spoke no English and, again, didn’t know anyone. I had to start all over…again. Another culture shock. I learned that my Russian mentality was so different from an American mentality, and I had to adjust and learn how to be understood, and understand others, to be successful. In 2010 I married my husband and moved to North Carolina. Surprisingly this was the hardest move out of all three of them. Unfortunately for a musician there were not many opportunities there. So I had to create my own. After meeting some musicians I started Carolina Royal Strings, a live music entertainment group. Its been over ten years since creating my small company and in that time, we have become Charlotte’s most successful and well known, string ensembles for hire. This gave me the ability to play music, share the love for music with everyone I met and to meet more people and make friends. Also I auditioned for the CHarlotte Symphony orchestra and am holding a full time one year contract position.

Between Charlotte Symphony concerts, Carolina Royal Strings jobs, and being a full time Mom to two beautiful little boys, I also have a lively music studio at my house where I currently teach cello students of all ages and skill sets. Some of my most fulfilling accomplishments as owner and CEO of Carolina Royal Strings have been watching my students earn college scholarships and earning positions in orchestras.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

How you got into your industry / business / discipline / craft etc? – I was inspired by my mother, who is a professional cellist, and started my studies in music at the age of 6 years old. I was born into the music industry. It is an extension of me. Practicing cello for many hours a day was all I knew growing up.

After moving to Charlotte, NC and starting Carolina Royal Strings I was very fortunate to provide our live music entertainment services at the Duke Mansion, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and hosts some of Charlotte’s most elite events. At Duke Mansion I’ve met and worked with many top rated event planners and hospitality professionals in the Charlotte area. This helped me build the reputation of great quality professional services. Networking within this circle of professionals was a huge jump start to my business.

What type of products/services/creative works do you provide? – I provide live music entertainment string ensembles like string quartet, trio, duo, solo instruments violin or cello. We can add piano, harp or trumpet to any combination listed above.

What problems do you solve for your clients and/or what do you think sets you apart from others? – Clients contact me when they are looking for live music entertainment for their events – weddings, corporate and social events, gala balls, gallery openings, banquets, holiday parties, cocktail parties and private dinners. To be more exact they are looking for string ensembles like string quartet, trio, duo, solo instruments violin or cello. We can add piano, harp or trumpet to any combinations listed above. We are also contacted by churches and individuals to perform chamber music recitals. There are many clients who we work with for many years now and we became a part of their family reunions or social gatherings.

What are you most proud of and what are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work/ etc.? – What sets Carolina Royal Strings apart from other music groups in the Charlotte area is first of all the quality of our work. I work exclusively with musicians who have tremendous training and experience in classical performance like myself, who are full time or part time members of a professional symphony orchestra. Many other groups will say that their musicians are classically trained but knowing how to play an instrument in theory and not being an experienced performer are two very different things. Unfortunately some local groups are exactly that.
Our repertoire and ability to play any music genre from classical to pop 40 to rock and jazz is another quality that I am proud of. If you like the Vitamin String Quartet we can sound like them. We can perform the traditional classical repertoire and then switch to string covers of music from Bridgeton on Taylor Swift etc.

And lastly, I keep my group local to the Charlotte region and I don’t branch out to multiple states like many other groups do. I like working with the same exceptional musicians who I trust and know that they will provide the best music to meet our clients demands and expectations. We are also known for providing outstanding personal service, delivering flawless performance, for our clients’ events. In addition to our high level of musicianship, we emphasize exceptional communication, planning and preparation from the moment clients book us through every moment of their event. I am very confident that our reputation often proceeds us, and I urge any potential client or partner to take a look at 3rd party reviews. I only employ musicians of the highest caliber that I am proud to represent the ensembles I have built over the years.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me the most rewarding aspect is the ability to express myself authentically and connect with others on a profound emotional level. The joy of sharing my music with the audience and evoking genuine reactions and emotions from others can be very rewarding.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One particularly challenging moment in my journey occurred during my transitions to studying in Germany and then the United States. Moving to a new country where I didn’t speak the language and lacked a support network was daunting. Despite feeling overwhelmed, I was determined to pursue my passion for music. I dedicated myself to learning languages with determination, spending countless hours studying and practicing, observing and studying people around me and learning how to communicate in a way that I am understood and then eventually growing to the point of being a business owner and an artist whose art is loved and respected. I was able to transform obstacles into opportunities and emerge stronger and more resilient than ever before.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://carolinaroyalstrings.com/about/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolina_royal_strings/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarolinaRoyalStrings
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCfL5X-At35_mLI1fLBRNPg

Image Credits
Jessica Vocke Photography