Biography

Ms. Mary Pulgar is currently a member of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Professor of Strings at Carson-Newman College, and Instructor of Violin at the Community School of the Arts. Since beginning her position at Carson-Newman, Ms. Pulgar has contributed considerable time and effort towards building a string program. Her students have played for such prestigious teachers/performers as Dylana Jenson and David Kim. Over the last few years, Ms. Pulgar has been invited on several occasions to be an adjudicator, working side by side with educators and musicians from all over the U.S at such events as the Sonata Festival at Milligan College in Tennessee. She has appeared as soloist with Orquesta Sinfónica del Delta Amacuro in Venezuela where she also gave a number of masterclasses and coachings. Ms. Pulgar has also served as Professor of Strings at Walters State Community College.

Ms. Pulgar is a member of the first violin section of the Knoxville Symphony. Prior to moving to Tennessee, she played with several professional orchestras including Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Ballet Orchestra, Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra and Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. She has also played on a regular basis with Greater Lansing, Saginaw, Altoona and Youngstown Symphony Orchestras.

Ms. Pulgar has served as Assistant Principal Second Violin of Battle Creek Symphony and Principal Second Violin with the Southwest Michigan Symphony and the Ohio Light Opera Orchestra for several productions. She spends her summers performing at music festivals and since 2006, has been a member of the Des Moines Metro Opera Orchestra. While completing her undergraduate studies, she attended National Orchestral Institute, Crested Butte Music Festival and participated in chamber music at Sunflower Music Festival in Kansas.

Ms. Pulgar holds a Master in Violin Performance from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Duquesne University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She is the loving mother of two daughters, Ana Cristina and Claudia, and married to violinist, Edward Pulgar.