An immensely popular and engaging speaker known for her infectious passion, humor and ability to connect music with history, Professor Carol is also fluent in Russian and German - with extensive research experience in both cultures.
Dr. Carol Reynolds developed a fascination with Russian culture during her teenage years. She earned her Bachelor’s of Music from Hollins College, Virginia, followed by a Master’s degree in piano and a Ph.D. in musicology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her doctoral research was conducted at the Leningrad Conservatory in the early 1980s, supported by a State Department grant, which deepened her expertise in Russian and Slavic studies. She then had a distinguished career as a professor of music history at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas. During her tenure, she founded and directed the SMU-in-Germany program, living and teaching in Germany multiple times since 1981.
After retiring from SMU in 2006, Dr. Reynolds and her husband, Hank, a music theorist and copyright attorney, moved to a ranch in North Central Texas, where they began raising goats. They also became involved in homeschooling and the revival of classical education. Under the brand “Professor Carol,” she started designing multimedia courses in history and the fine arts, focusing on making the arts accessible and meaningful through humor, substance, and skilled piano performance. Her signature courses include:
- Discovering Music: 300 Years of Interaction in Western Music, Arts, History, and Culture (2009)
- Exploring America’s Musical Heritage (2011)
- America’s Artistic Legacy
- Imperial Russia
- Early Sacred Music
Dr. Reynolds is a much sought-after speaker and study leader for Smithsonian Journeys, leading arts-focused tours to destinations such as Russia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovenia, the Baltic States, the Holy Land, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and across the Atlantic. She has also led tours for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Dallas Opera, and speaks at conferences, art institutions and events like the Van Cliburn Series, Dallas Symphony, and opera companies. Her engaging style, combining history, humor, and energy, has earned her praise from travelers, who describe her as insightful, approachable, and enthusiastic. She also contributes to the classical education movement, collaborating with organizations like Memoria Press and participating in initiatives like “Classical Education Unhinged” alongside other educators.
Professor Carol emphasizes the importance of Western cultural heritage, famously proclaiming, “The arts are not an elective. It’s a treasure!”
For more information, visit her official website at ProfessorCarol.com
or check her Smithsonian Journeys profile at SmithsonianJourneys.org.
