We offer private Suzuki and traditional violin instruction in a challenging yet nurturing environment in Downtown Cary

Holly Talton is the Owner and Teaching Artist at Talton Violin Studio in the heart of Downtown Cary.   She teaches Suzuki and Traditional Classical violin to musicians of all levels from absolute beginner through competition and pre-professional.  She works with students as young as three and as old as 80 plus.  Her teaching has been described as joyful and humorous, and often has a therapeutic spirit.  Holly has a unique background as an elite child performer which informs her approach to working with students dealing with qualities and challenges including anxiety, neurodivergence, learning differences, high achievement and varying artistic goals.  

A former professional concert violinist, Holly holds violin performance degrees from Rice University (MM), Indiana University (BM), and UNC School of the Arts (High School).  Before embarking on her full-time teaching career she worked as an orchestral violinist with companies including the New World Symphony, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Richmond Symphony.  Holly began teaching privately at the age of 19 as a supplement to her performing career.  In 2006 Holly transitioned her work to full-time studio teaching and has since built and maintained a thriving studio in Cary, North Carolina. 

A North Carolina native, Holly began her violin studies at the age of 3 as a part of the Suzuki community at East Carolina University led by Joanne Bath.  She had a prolific childhood career including a concerto debut while still in elementary school, numerous regional and national competition prizes, and solo concerto performances with orchestras including the North Carolina Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, Raleigh Symphony, and Durham Symphony.  Holly began her official conservatory training at the age of 14 in the studio of Elaine Richey at the UNC School of the Arts.  She continued her studies with Miriam Fried (Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University) and Kathleen Winkler (Shepherd School of Music at Rice).  She held fellowships at New World Symphony and Tanglewood Music Center and participated in summer festivals at Music Academy of the West, Kneisel Hall and Interlochen, among others. 

Holly lives in Downtown Cary with her husband, attorney Gabe Talton and two sons; Louis (a college student) and Witt (a high school student). In her spare time she enjoys books, meditation, hot yoga, rescue dogs, restaurants and naps.