Known for his eclectic style of writing, Carter Falkenstein is an accomplished composer and bassist currently attending the University of Maryland, focusing in Jazz Studies. Composing since 2021, Carter has written in all kinds of genres, from film scores to folk rock anthems, and from indie game soundtracks to classical chamber pieces. 

Since attending both his previous college, College of Southern Maryland, and UMD, Carter has been a part of multiple school-based and recreational bands and music groups. at CSM, he was a part of the school's Latin Ensemble and Jazz Band, as well as helping establish the New Music at CSM club and serving as president for 3 semesters. At UMD, he founded the New Music at UMD club and is currently serving as president, as well as having played with the University of Maryland Big Band and three jazz combos, including the GCAF Combo with DeAnte Willis, as well as some time playing in the weekly Jazz department jam sessions. 

With his focus on upright bass at both CSM and UMD, Carter has learned under Dr. Phillip Ravita and Professor Thomas Baldwin respectively. In the composition world, many teachers have had an impact on his compositional journey. At CSM, Dr. B.A. Ferguson was heavily inspirational to Carter's pursuit of composition as a career choice, and once he got to UMD, he had many more opportunities to write music through his theory and composition classes with Dr. Anna Nelson, Professor Johannes Visser, Dr. Leigh Pilzer and Dr. Daniel Zimmerman.

Outside of school, Carter plays bass for DMV-based bands such as WormWagon and Fools of Fall, helping with songwriting for both bands, as well as pit orchestra experience with Port Tobacco Players. Additionally, he has years of experience in live sound and music, having been a part of the sound team in his high school's drama department to currently doing sound for events with Inner Arbor Trust and CoFestCo hosted at Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods and elsewhere around Central and Northern Maryland.