Courtney Guthrie received her undergraduate degree is Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. There, she studied with Dr. Scott Rawls and performed in the University Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Kevin Geraldi. She was also a part of many chamber groups, including a String Quartet, String Trio, under the direction of Ms. Marjorie Bagley, and a Clarinet Trio under the direction of Dr. Rawls. She also received String Education and Methods classes from renowned string education instructor Dr. Rebecca Macleod.

After graduating from UNCG in 2012, she was able to return to her hometown of Charlotte, NC, where she previously studied with Charlotte Symphony musician Ning Zhao and attended Butler High School where she performed under the direction of her now colleague, Tom LaJoie. She is the orchestra director at South Charlotte Middle School and Community House Middle School. In her 3 years of teaching, her orchestras have earned Superior and Excellent ratings at the Music Performance Assessment Festival in Shelby, NC. She has had several students perform at CMS Honors Orchestra and Junior All-State Orchestra and she loves helping her students achieve those goals. She also performs regularly with the Charlotte Civic Orchestra and the Union Symphony Orchestra. In the fall, she will be  serving as the coach for the viola section of the Union Symphony Youth Orchestra.

She is happy to be on board more permanently at the Charlotte Academy of Music, and is now a part of the Academy faculty! She enjoys spending quality time with family and close friends in Charlotte. She loves to play with animals (even though she is allergic), travel, play music, and catch up on her favorite TV shows.

Ms. Guthrie strongly believes that classical musicianship is the foundation of strong performing in any other genre. She believes that being well rounded musically can transfer into other aspects of students’ lives, helping them think more critically both at school and in the world around them.