Carl Derfler

Bio

Carl L. Derfler has a PhD in music composition and theory from the University of Oregon. He served as a music editor at OCP from 1997 to 2001 and has taught kindergarten through graduate school as a music educator. His classes included composition, music theory and sight-singing at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for four years and Radford University in Radford, Virginia for seven years. Now retired, he still teaches music theory for the non-profit community music school Renaissance Music Academy in Blacksburg, Virginia. He also writes and evaluates music questions for the United States Academic Decathlon, a High School scholarship bowl competition, and serves on the curriculum board for that organization.

Carl has continued to maintain an active musical role as well. He plays violin in two community orchestras and in a pit orchestra for musicals during the summer. He also plays clarinet in a community band and a German “Oktoberfest” band during the season. Carl serves as a choir director, guitarist and singer for his local Catholic parish.