Monique Mead

Associate Teaching Professor / Director of Music Entrepreneurship Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh PA

Monique Mead has been a lifelong activist for classical music as a violinist, educator and innovator.

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Biography

As Director of Music Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon School of Music, Monique Mead helps students prepare for professional life and create innovative career paths in music. Her curriculum is practical in nature, providing students with the skills, tools, and real-life experiences they need to succeed as professional musicians. Monique Mead's own rich and varied career is a testament to her enduring belief that music has the power to connect, heal, and uplift humanity. Whether performing concertos, engaging young audiences, or fostering wellbeing, Mead strives to create transformative musical experiences that connect people more deeply with themselves and others.

Inspired and mentored by Leonard Bernstein, Mead has been a lifelong activist for classical music as a violinist, educator and innovator. Since 1998, she has appeared regularly on German television and radio featuring her innovative youth concerts with prestigious German orchestras in Berlin, Munich, and Cologne. In the U.S. she has collaborated with the Pittsburgh Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Mainly Mozart, Orcas Island, Rockport Festival, among others. In addition to performing as a soloist and chamber musician, Mead currently serves as Artistic Director of the Rancho La Puerta Chamber Music Festival in Mexico; Executive Director of Olympic Strings Camp in Washington; Artistic Director of Azure Family Concerts Pittsburgh, and maintains a Sound Healing studio at the Awareness & Wellness Center in Pittsburgh. Mead is the mother of two talented teens, and a lover of nature, yoga, and homegrown cuisine.

Areas of Expertise

Chamber Music

Music Education

Entrepreneurship

Music Performance

Violin Performance

Orchestral Music

Media Appearances

A 90-minute reprieve from a world gone crazy

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette online

2025-01-12

On a cold afternoon at Heinz Memorial Chapel at the University of Pittsburgh, violinist Monique Mead joined 15 musicians and others who played 60 crystal bowls. The goal: Create an immersive experience.

Pitt medical students study the healing power of sound with renowned CMU violinist

90.5 WESA radio

2025-01-08

Monique Mead, a professional violinist who studied under Leonard Bernstein, has been offering sound baths at the Awareness and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh since 2022. The one-hour sessions offer a space to lie comfortably in a soft, blanketed bean bag while Mead guides a group meditation with violin, gong, crystal singing bowls and percussion.

Where Music, Nature, and Flow Converge: The Unforgettable Chamber Music Week

Rancho La Puerta online

2024-09-30

Set in the beauty of The Ranch, this festival offers daily concerts, intimate talks with the artists, behind-the-scenes access to rehearsals, and unexpected “random acts of music” throughout the day. We sat down with the festival’s Artistic Director, Monique Mead, to learn more about this special event. Monique shared how the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere of Rancho La Puerta enhances the connection between musicians and guests, making this a truly unique and inspiring experience for both chamber music enthusiasts and newcomers alike.