Major teachers include Ola Karlsson, Tanya Remenikova, and Otto Freudenthal. Dr. Carlson is the Director of Academy Orchestras at Punahou School. In addition to teaching, he has extensive chamber music and orchestral performance credits in the U.S. and abroad, having performed with Gothenburg Symphony, Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra. He also served as Adjunct Professor of Cello at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota. Dr. Carlson is a member of the Music Teachers National Association and the American String Teachers Association.

Dr. Carlson has taught at Punahou since 2005.