Karl Wiederwohl

Dr. Karl Wiederwohl has enjoyed teaching at the MacPhail Center for Music since 2012. While concurrently serving at MacPhail, Karl also served as the trombone and euphonium professor at St. Olaf College 2021-2025. He hopes to give each unique student the tools and knowledge necessary to travel music’s pathway toward a more deeply fulfilling and joyful life. His approach is rooted in the appreciation of beauty and the fun of pursuing excellence. Karl’s students are regularly on the rosters of the top GTCYS and MYS orchestras, have gone on to elite colleges such as Northwestern University and the Eastman School of Music, and have performed professionally with the Atlanta Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, and Cleveland Orchestra. 

Karl has held bass trombone positions with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, New World Symphony, Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra, and he has performed as a substitute with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Karl’s doubling experience includes work on euphonium, tenor trombone, contrabass trombone and bass trumpet with ensembles including the Wolf Trap Opera, New World Symphony, and National Gallery Orchestra. Karl has enjoyed performing under many notable conductors including Michael Tilson Thomas, Franz Welser-Möst and Osmo Vänskä. He has also recorded for television and performed popular music with luminaries including Idina Menzel.

While earning his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland, Karl became an avid marathoner, ultramarathoner, and Ironman Triathlete. He believes that mental and physical challenges–both artistic and athletic–can help shape us into mindful citizens who make unique contributions through healthy self-expression.