Scott Carrell '87 grew up in a musical family. Both his parents and their siblings played instruments and sang. He first began his piano studies when he was 10 years old. "I was very self-motivated and practiced diligently from the beginning. Ragtime, particularly that of Scott Joplin, was an early fascination; I spent many hours studying and attempting to play his works as well as composing," he recalls. In junior high, he began studying with Southwestern faculty and considers himself fortunate that they guided him to a strong technical and musical foundation that was grounded in the classics. This ultimately lead him to attend Southwestern.

Carrell received his bachelor of music in piano performance and a bachelor of arts in computer science. "My heart was in music, but I enjoyed the challenges of computer programming," says Carrell. While attending the University, he sang with and accompanied the SU Chorale, and was one of the first men inducted into Delta Omicron.

In the 31 years that Carrell has been studying and playing piano, he has received numerous awards and recognitions. "The fruits are many I have been able to perform for a variety of audiences in many situations and share great music with them. This is very gratifying for me. These opportunities and awards remind me of how much more is still left to explore; I am excited about future projects and performances," he says. This passion inspires his performances. "I have found that music, particularly in the great masterpieces, combines both emotions and intellect; it allows us to share common experiences of life with other people. I also enjoy discovering the subtleties that composers include in their compositions," says Carrell. When performing, his hope is that audiences are moved by the music. He believes that if listeners leave a concert feeling enriched and enlightened, then he has accomplished his goal.

Carrell has channeled his passion and love for the piano into his career. He is a professor of music at Harding University, and he enjoys working with teenage and collegiate students. "Every instructor has their own interests and abilities in teaching; mine lie in teaching intermediate and advanced students. It is my desire to be a mentor to them in their piano studies, music and life," he says. "My most important goal is to instill in my students a love of music. They are re-creating the music and making it alive in the moment." Carrell also spends time teaching technical skills but believes that it is the expression of the composer's writing and of the performer's experience that are the true focus.

Beyond the piano, Carrell has also studied voice and the organ. He continues to sing in church and works with singers on occasion. "We all have different gifts and abilities; I believe that we must develop and share our gifts and appreciate what others can do. It amazes me still that music has the power to bring us together and to help us share our experiences -- I am very blessed to be a part of it," says Carrell.