Hazel is the director of the Mountain School of Strings in Brevard, NC which offers classes to all Transylvania County schools and at the Brevard Music Center. Hazel is also the Chorus and Appalachian Music Studies teacher for Rosman Middle and High School.
Earning a Masters of Music from the University of Southern California, she studied classical guitar, lute and voice. Hazel plays guitar, lute, banjo, piano, drums and sings. Since her debut as a drummer and singer at age 14, she has had a lively performing, recording and teaching career. She previously was the Music Director at The Cooper School and Oak Grove Montessori in Charleston, SC and was owner and operator of the music school Hungry Monk Music for 20 years.
Hazel is a sought after summer music festival teacher and clinician and has offered classes at Appalachian State University, Oberlin Conservatory, Cincinnati Conservatory, Berkeley School of Music and more. An active performer, she has been a member of Columbia Baroque, Corde Cantanti, Rosignol Lute Duo, The Marshgrass Mamas, The Hungry Monks and The Harrows. Hazel curated the popular Women & series at the Charleston Music Hall where she performed 16 concerts including the music of Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Neil Young and The Rolling Stones.
Hazel published her own music and movement curriculum Ms. Hazel's Music and has children's CDs, Big as the World, Say Darlin' Say and Science Songs Rock. In addition Hazel has a recording of solo lute and self-accompanied songs titled When to Her Lute She Sings and a recording of Irish traditional music with Banna de Dha, Band of Two.
As an artist in residence Hazel spent summers at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Green River Preserve and the Charlotte Children's Theater. Hazel was a featured performer at the Sorrento Guitarfest in Sorrento, Italy and was Storyteller in Residence at the Cairo American College in Cairo, Egypt. She also performed traditional American music for concerts sponsored by the American Embassy in Cairo, Egypt. Hazel and her husband Bob Culver have performed in Quito, Ecuador with the Orchestra Jovin and they have given workshops in Quito in American music and dance.