Bio

Caroline Earp is Executive Director of the Southeastern Piano Festival and Director of Alumni & Donor Engagement at the University of South Carolina School of Music. A native of Charleston, South Carolina, she grew up in a musical family and began studying piano at age seven, later pursuing both piano and voice. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Columbia College, where she studied with Lanny Palmer (voice) and Robyn Gibson (piano). Her background as a trained musician continues to shape her work supporting performing artists and advancing music education.

In 2004, Caroline relocated to New York City, where she spent 13 years building a career in nonprofit leadership and arts administration. She worked for a decade at the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, advancing from Development Assistant to Manager of Institutional Projects. In that role, she oversaw major initiatives including the Annual Gathering of Remembrance, New York City’s largest Holocaust commemoration, attended by more than 2,000 people each year.

Caroline also served for two academic years as Associate Administrative Director of the Vocal Arts Department at The Juilliard School. There, she co-produced opera productions, master classes, guest recitals, and served as liaison to internationally renowned artists including Renata Scotto, Renée Fleming, Fabrizio Melano, and Stephen Wadsworth. During her time in New York, she remained active as a performer, appearing as a soloist with the Grace Choral Society of Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra in works such as Haydn’s The Creation (Eve) and Michael Tippett’s A Child of Our Time (soprano soloist).

Since returning to Columbia in 2018, Caroline has served at the USC School of Music where she plays a key role in strengthening relationships with alumni and donors and in supporting the continued growth of the Southeastern Piano Festival.

Caroline is also a certified QPR Gatekeeper and certified in Adult Mental Health First Aid through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, equipping her to recognize warning signs of mental health or substance use challenges, provide initial, stigma-free support, and help connect individuals with appropriate professional resources.