Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara Careaga (aka Angela Barbara Mitchell) Mitchell.
Hi Barbara Careaga (aka Angela Barbara Mitchell), we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Bárbara Careaga was born in 1981 in Concepción, Chile. She studied at the Instituto de Humanidades Concepción Alfredo Silva Santiago and pursued violin studies with Américo Giusti at the Sociedad Bach Music Conservatory and the Antonio Vivaldi Music Academy. She won the Young Talents Competition and performed as a soloist with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Concepción. She also performed extensively as a section violinist with the orchestra, participating in numerous concerts and national tours. Over the course of four years, she worked as an instructor with the Orquesta Juvenil de Curanilahue and several other youth orchestras in Chile. In 2000, she toured Germany and Spain with the Curanilahue Youth Symphony Orchestra.
In 2001, she received a scholarship to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance under Dr. Patricio Cobos at the Schwob School of Music, Columbus State University (Georgia). During her undergraduate studies, she received the Presser Scholar and Music Major Awards and graduated magna cum laude. She continued her studies at Butler University with Professor Larry Shapiro before transferring to the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, where she completed a Master of Music in Violin Performance under the guidance of renowned pedagogue Kurt Sassmannshaus. In 2008, she also studied for a semester with distinguished Professor Sergiu Schwartz.
As a violin educator, Careaga maintained a private studio in Columbus and Macon, Georgia, for over ten years. She worked with the Youth Orchestra of Greater Columbus, Empowered Youth of Columbus, the Making Music Matters program, and a string program in LaGrange, Georgia. She has served as an adjudicator for educational competitions such as GMEA in Georgia and Alabama. She currently teaches at Carere Music Inc. and Decatur Fine Arts Academy in the Atlanta metropolitan area.
As a professional violinist, she has performed in concerts and tours with ensembles including the Atlanta Boy Choir, Columbus Symphony (GA), Georgia Symphony, Atlanta Opera, Atlanta Ballet, Johns Creek Symphony, LaGrange Symphony, Macon Pops Symphony, Coastal Symphony of Georgia, Savannah Philharmonic, Greenville Symphony (SC), Charleston Symphony, Alabama Symphony, and the Shanghai Baroque Chamber Orchestra. Her performances have taken place throughout the United States, Canada, China, and Europe.
In 2019, she launched an artistic photography project compiling photography books from her travels, including Destiny, Georgia on My Mind, and China: Blend of Old and New. That same year, she won first place at the Ben Smith Art Competition in Waycross, Georgia, for her photograph China: Blend of Old and New. Her photo duo Life After Life and her award-winning work were exhibited at the Okefenokee Heritage Center Art Gallery in Waycross, Georgia, in November 2019.
In March 2020, she began writing a bilingual (English–Spanish) collection of poems, riddles, and short stories titled Side Effects of a Pandemic, a reflective journey of personal discovery, social analysis, and contemplation during the COVID-19 pandemic. This work was followed by a sequel, Déjà Vú: Variations on Idée Fixe. In May 2023, she collaborated with Marcelo Careaga Butter and Claudia Vaca on the publication of Cuentos Pandémicos y Disruptivos, pairing each story with her artistic photography.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, drawing, painting, meditating, and exercising. She currently resides in the Marietta area, where she works as a Spanish–English interpreter alongside her artistic and educational pursuits.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Life is a lifelong journey of learning—a winding road filled with unexpected turns and meaningful surprises. Every challenge we encounter carries the potential to shape us, and it is up to us to transform obstacles into opportunities for growth, no matter how difficult the path may feel. I have faced my own share of struggles, yet I choose to see them as lessons that guide me forward and help me become a better, stronger, and more compassionate person. I prefer to keep my challenges private and use them as quiet sources of wisdom that enrich my life and, most importantly, the lives of my children. Growth never truly ends, and every lesson we learn becomes a gift we can pass on to empower future generations.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a professional musician and Spanish interpreter with a strong commitment to teaching and community engagement. I teach violin in both private and group settings and regularly perform with multiple ensembles in a wide variety of venues throughout the Atlanta area. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with outstanding colleagues whose artistry reflects the highest level of musicianship. I come from a family of teachers and educators across multiple disciplines, an experience that has shaped my perspective and informed my approach to teaching. This background has allowed me to develop a well-rounded, holistic method rooted in empathy, curiosity, and the shared human experience. I am most proud of my family—my parents, grandparents, and my children—whose support and values continue to inspire my work. I believe in the uniqueness of every individual and in the power each of us holds to strengthen our communities and create a positive impact that extends beyond ourselves.
How do you define success?
I believe success is a deeply personal concept that reflects the core of who we are as human beings. For me, success means being able to share the wisdom and knowledge I have gained with others. Whenever I am given an opportunity to grow and learn, I feel a responsibility to pass that knowledge on to my peers and younger generations. I believe that when one person achieves success, it inspires others to become better individuals and to create a positive impact within their community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.barbaracareaga.com
- Instagram: barbara_careaga_a
