The Story Behind Carolina Royal Strings
our storyCarolina Royal Strings was inspired by a lifelong journey through music and culture. Today, it stands as a community of musicians united by artistry and purpose.
Message from the Founder & Artistic Director - Oksana McCarthy
I was born and raised in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and began cello training at the age of six, inspired by my mother, a professional cellist. At nineteen, driven by a dream to perform on the world’s greatest stages, I left home to study in Germany. I arrived without knowing a word of German, unable to fully express myself except through music. During that first year, the cello became my voice, my anchor, and the way I built my first friendships in a new culture.
Years later, I immigrated again, this time to the United States. The story repeated itself: a new country, a new language, another beginning from zero. And once again, music was the bridge that carried me forward, connecting me to people and helping me find belonging far from home.
That journey took me to concert halls across four continents, from the Sydney Opera House to the Berlin Philharmonic Hall and Charlotte’s Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. Each performance deepened my belief that music transcends words, borders, and differences.
In 2010, I made Charlotte my home. I arrived with rich international experience but no musical network. I missed the camaraderie of rehearsals, the joy of shared artistry, and the refinement of the European musical life I had known abroad. Out of that longing grew the idea for something new, an ensemble that would bring together exceptional musicians and the spirit of collaboration I had carried across continents.
That vision became Carolina Royal Strings. From the very beginning, I sought out some of the region’s finest classically trained musicians, many of them members of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Over time, we have grown into more than an ensemble; we are a small family built on trust, artistry, and shared purpose.
Every performance is rooted in connection between musicians, couples, families, and friends. Music unites people in ways words never can, and I am honored to witness new families being formed and to contribute through the very language that has carried me across continents.
- Oksana McCarthy, Founder & Artistic Director
Founded by Oksana McCarthy in 2010, Carolina Royal Strings is comprised of highly skilled, classically trained professional musicians. We provide live music for weddings, corporate and social events, chamber music concerts and private celebrations, delivering flawless performances and outstanding personal service. When you book Carolina Royal Strings, you work directly with founder Oksana McCarthy throughout the entire planning process.
Meet The Musicians
“Shaped by people, defined by artistry.”
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Eliza, violin
A member of Carolina Royal Strings since 2013, Eliza holds music degrees from Arizona State University and the University of South Carolina. She performs regularly with the Charlotte Symphony and has appeared internationally with the Jeunesses Musicales World Orchestra, sharing the stage with artists including The Eagles, Andrea Bocelli, and Michael Bublé.
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Susan, Violin
A distinguished member of the Charlotte Symphony since 1987, Susan brings decades of orchestral and chamber experience to Carolina Royal Strings, where she has performed since 2013. A Peabody Conservatory alumna, she has appeared with the Baltimore, National, and North Carolina symphonies and created a pioneering violin program for special needs students at Charlotte’s Metro School.
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Shawn, Viola
An accomplished violist and Eastman School of Music graduate, Shawn performs regularly with the Charlotte Symphony and Sarasota Orchestra. He has appeared in major halls across Europe, including the Liszt Hall in Budapest and Dvořák Hall in Prague, and has been a member of Carolina Royal Strings since 2017.
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Oksana McCarthy, Cello
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
An accomplished cellist and Founder of Carolina Royal Strings, Oksana has an active career as a chamber musician and orchestral performer. She performs regularly with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and has appeared in renowned venues including the Sydney Opera House, The Concertgebouw, and Berlin Konzerthaus. Her collaborations include performances with Maxim Vengerov, Gil Shaham, Renée Fleming, and Andrea Bocelli. Oksana holds music degrees from Lynn University in Florida and the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich, Germany.
