Mia Detwiler is a versatile and dynamic violinist who has established herself as an accomplished performer of both traditional and contemporary repertoire, performing regularly as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States and abroad. She is an enthusiastic supporter of contemporary music and has premiered more than eighty works.
Detwiler's talent has been recognized on an international scale, as she has participated as a performer in prestigious festivals around the world including the Foro Internacional de Música Nueva Manuel Enríquez, New Music Gathering, the International Computer Music Conference, Days of New Music Tirana, June in Buffalo, New Music on the Bayou, and the Kaleidoscope MusArt Series. Her musical career has been marked by diverse performances that have been featured on albums released by renowned labels such as Parma Records and Sawyer Editions. 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, and in 2018, she performed in a recreation of Philip Glass' debut concert.
Detwiler is a founding member of Amorsima Trio, with whom she performs new 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. They have served as ensemble-in-residence at the University of Louisville New Music Festival, Mise-en Music Festival, CEMICircles Festival, Electric Latex Festival, and the Tarrant County College Summer Composition workshop. An avid chamber musician, Detwiler has also performed with various other ensembles including Duo Chromatica, Sounds Modern, Ensemble Mise-en, NOVA Ensemble, ensemble75, NuAtmospheres, and the Arizona Contemporary Music Ensemble. 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.
A dedicated and passionate teacher, Detwiler enjoys working with students of all ages and skill levels. 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 and coached chamber music ensembles. She has also held teaching positions at Tarleton State University, Dallas College, Tarrant County College, and the Coppell Conservatory. Previously, she taught violin for the Arizona State University String Project and the Tallahassee Youth Orchestra scholarship program.
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 to intermediate and advanced students 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 is currently Instructor of Violin at Texas Woman's University.