Mia Detwiler

Dr. Mia Detwiler is a versatile and dynamic violinist who has established herself as an accomplished performer. With more than 12 years of teaching experience, she enjoys working with students of all ages and skill levels and is passionate about helping each student reach their full potential. She is currently Instructor of Violin at Texas Woman’s University. During her graduate studies, she served as Violin Teaching Fellow at the University of North Texas, where she maintained a studio of undergraduate violin students, coached chamber music ensembles, and taught a group strings class. She has also taught violin at Tarleton State University, Dallas College, Tarrant County College, the Coppell Conservatory, the Arizona State University String Project, and the Tallahassee Youth Orchestra scholarship program. 

Detwiler’s students have won positions in Texas All-Region orchestras and have received Superior ratings at State Solo and Ensemble Festivals. Many have also served as concertmasters in their middle school and high school orchestras and have participated in youth orchestras in the DFW metroplex including Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, Dallas Asian American Youth Orchestra, Lone Star Youth Orchestra, and Youth Symphony of Denton. They have attended international festivals such as ISMI, Urbino Musica Antica Festival, and the Texas Tech Orchestra Camp.  She has also prepared students for Royal Conservatory of Music examinations who have received First Class Honours. 

Detwiler holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Violin Performance with a related field in Contemporary Music from the University of North Texas where she studied with Felix Olschofka. Her doctoral dissertation, titled “An Introduction to Contemporary Violin Techniques: A Practical Guide with Exercises for Students and Teachers,” showcases her expertise in teaching contemporary music and includes her original etudes designed for this purpose. She also earned a Master of Music from Arizona State University, studying with Katie McLin, and a Bachelor of Music from Florida State University, studying with Corinne Stillwell. She completed her Suzuki training with Edward Kreitman, Vickie Pautz, and Jenna Potts. 

Detwiler’s talent has been recognized on an international scale. She has performed around the globe as a soloist and chamber musician at numerous international festivals including the Foro Internacional de Música Nueva Manuel Enríquez, New Music Gathering, Days of New Music Tirana, June in Buffalo, New Music on the Bayou, Mise-en Music Festival, and the Kaleidoscope MusArt Series. Her career has been marked by diverse performances that have been featured on albums released by renowned labels such as Parma Records and Wandelweiser Records. In 2016, she was featured as a guest soloist with the UNT Percussion Ensemble, taking part in the consortium premiere of Robert Xavier Rodriguez’s Xochiquetzal Concerto for violin and percussion sextet. Detwiler is also a founding member of the Amorsima Trio, with whom she performs works by living composers from around the world. Notably, the trio commissioned and premiered 21 miniatures in celebration of Beethoven’s 250th anniversary in 2021 and received a Classical Commissioning Grant from Chamber Music America in 2022. An avid chamber musician, Detwiler also performs with Duo Chromatica, Sounds Modern, and Ensemble Mise-en. Furthermore, she has led as concertmaster of the University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra, the University of North Texas Festival Orchestra, and the Arizona State University Orchestra.