Carolyn Yarnell is a visionary composer and visual artist whose work transcends traditional boundaries, blending music, painting, and multimedia to create immersive artistic experiences. She is known for her evocative compositions that explore themes of nature, spirituality, and the cosmos.

A graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the Yale School of Music, Yarnell’s work has been performed by leading ensembles and musicians across the United States, Europe and Asia. Her compositions range from large orchestral, chamber, choral and solo works to electronic and ambient soundscapes, reflecting her deep fascination with both classical traditions and contemporary experimental techniques.

Beyond music, Yarnell is also an accomplished writer and visual artist, often intertwining her paintings with her compositions to craft deeply expressive, synesthetic narratives. Her art and music together create a unique, multidimensional experience that invites audiences to explore the intersections of sound and sight.

Recognized for her innovation, Yarnell has received numerous accolades, including a Fulbright Fellowship to Iceland, an Individual Artist Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts for Music Composition and Oil Painting, the Charles Ives Scholarship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, artist residencies to MacDowell, Ucross, Yaddo, Montalvo, Djerassi, the Virginia Center, Headlands Center for the Arts, the Tanglewood Music Center, Aspen Music School, a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Rome Prize. Her work continues to inspire and challenge listeners, offering profound meditations on the natural world and the human experience.