Carol G. Strayer, a native of Denville, New Jersey, has worked in Rutherford County as a private instrumental lesson teacher for the past five years. Prior to moving to Murfreesboro, she taught band, strings and school musicals for ten years at Enfield Public Schools in Connecticut. Carol also taught band at Valleyview Middle School in Denville, NJ for eight years and was the music department for Morris Catholic High School in NJ for three years.

Carol earned a Bachelor of Music from Wingate University, North Carolina (1980) and a Master of Science in Music from Central Connecticut State University (2000).

Carol is an active member of the Tennessee Valley Winds (TVW) and the Tennessee Valley Brass Quintet playing the euphonium and trombone. She presently serves as the Executive Director of TVW since 2008 and previously served as the Publicity Chair from 2006-08. She is also a member of ITEA (International Tuba/Euphonium Association), MENC and TMEA. Carol has served as an adjudicator for MTSBOA Solo & Ensemble from 2006-09.

Carol received the Junior Scholastic Magazine Award for Outstanding Drama Club in 1998 and again in 1999 for Outstanding Jazz Program at Eli Whitney School in Enfield, CT. Her Jazz Band performed for the Eastern Connecticut Music Educators Workshop. In NJ, the Valleyview Middle School Concert Band performed for the Governor at the NJ Teen Arts Festival after being awarded champion for Morris County in 1987. They also performed for the NJMEA Convention with guest conductor Andrew Balent in 1985.

Carol resides in Murfreesboro with her husband Andy and their two children, Ryan and Jennifer.