Carl Holmquist (b. 1983) is the director of bands at the H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program in Arlington, VA where he directs four concert bands, two jazz ensembles, and teaches music theory. His ensembles have performed with high acclaim at music festivals in Boston, MA and Toronto, Canada. He is also an active teacher and performer on trumpet and has served as a judge in county-wide and All-District band auditions. He earned a B.M. magna cum laude in Music Education from St. Olaf College with Music Department distinction in 2005.
As a composer, Holmquist has written numerous works for concert band, brass quintet, string ensembles, and vocal ensembles. Two of his works for concert band, Play! and Kirby: to my hero, have been published by C. Alan Publications. In 2007 he conducted the premiere of his Symphony No. 1, A New Orleans Symphony, with the H-B Woodlawn Wind Ensemble. He received first prize in the 2006 Claude T. Smith Memorial Band Composition Contest, a national competition for composers under age 27, for his work Play! His work, From the Banks to the Blue Ridge, was performed under his direction by the St. Olaf Band on tours in the U.S. and in Norway. Holmquist's works for concert band have been premiered by the St. Olaf Band, the Minnesota Symphonic Winds, and various high school and middle school bands. His works for vocal ensembles have been premiered by the St. Olaf Manitou Singers and the H-B Woodlawn Men's Choir.
As a conductor, Holmquist has been an active participant in symposia at Northwestern University and the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. He served as guest clinician/composer at the 2008 Anoka High School Concert Band Camp.
While attending St. Olaf College he served as guest conductor for the St. Olaf Band, the St. Olaf Cantorei, and the St. Olaf Percussion ensemble.
Holmquist and his wife of two years, Elizabeth, live in Arlington, VA where they enjoy exploring Washington D.C. and venturing out to Shenandoah for hikes with their one-year -old Labradoodle named Mellby.
