Cara Luffey, M.M.
Bassoon
A native of El Paso, Cara Luffey was appointed Lecturer of Bassoon at the University of Texas at El Paso in 2014. Ms. Luffey earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of the Pacific, graduating summa cum laude and performing the Hummel concerto as winner of the concerto competition. She continued her studies, earning a Master of Music from Carnegie Mellon University and a Teaching Certification from Texas State University in San Marcos, TX. Her teachers include: Dr. Don DaGrade, Mr. David Granger and Ms. Nancy Goeres.
After completing her degrees, Ms. Luffey won a position with the US Air Force Band at Langley Air Force Base, VA, and was later stationed with the USAFE Band in Sembach, Germany. During four years of service, she performed in various countries and settings throughout the Eastern US and Europe in quintets and concert bands.
Ms. Luffey’s love of chamber music began during her undergraduate studies where she was a finalist in the Coleman and Carmel Chamber Music competitions as a member of the Siren Trio. She has continued to perform chamber music throughout her career in recitals at Star Classics in San Francisco, CA, Shadyside Concert Series in Pittsburgh, PA, Texas A&M University at Kingsville, Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, TX, San Antonio, TX, Austin, TX, and with her colleagues at the University of Texas at El Paso.
Her varied career as an orchestral musician has taken her from Graz, Austria with the AIMS Festival Orchestra, to a tour of China with the Mantovani Orchestra. She has previously held principal seats with the Victoria Symphony, Laredo Philharmonic, and Corpus Christi Ballet Orchestra and has performed with the San Antonio Opera, San Antonio Symphony, Mid-Texas Symphony, Charleston Symphony Orchestra and Corpus Christi Symphony. After playing third bassoon and contra with the El Paso Symphony for three seasons, she currently holds the principal seat in El Paso as well as with the Las Cruces Symphony.
A dedicated teacher, Ms. Luffey has experience with all grade levels and settings. She served on the faculty at Texas A&M University at Kingsville as Lecturer of Bassoon and at Northwest Early College High School in El Paso, TX as a general music teacher. She has also coached many bassoon sections associated with youth symphonies, middle and high school bands. While she enjoys all types of teaching, she finds one-on-one lessons to be most rewarding.
Contact Info
Department of Music
Office: FFA M437
Email: cgluffey@utep.edu
Office Phone: (915) 747-5606