Carla was born in Lima, Peru and emigrated to Pittsburg, PA, with her family when she was eight years old where they lived for almost five years before moving to Illinois. It was in middle school that Carla inadvertently discovered her future career as a classical musician. Despite almost quitting the middle school band when she didn’t have enough “hot air” to play the flute, her interests changed when she picked up the oboe and learned to play it. Carla continued playing the oboe and formally studied music at the advanced level, eventually earning her Master’s degree in music from Rice University in Texas.
Carla made a career out of her love of playing the oboe and spent 13 years touring the nation while on active duty with the United States Coast Guard band. During that time, Carla played the oboe in orchestras under several famous conductors and in renowned venues like Carnegie Hall. In addition to playing music, which is much more than a hobby to her, Carla enjoys reading historical fiction and nonfiction, especially books about wars. Out of all the places she’s traveled, which are numerous, the Australian outback, specifically the city of Sydney, Australia, is