Regina Carter (born in Detroit, Michigan in 1966) is an American jazz violinist. She began as a classical violinist but became increasingly interested in jazz, and is considered one of the finest violinists in the genre. Carter attended Cass Technical High School. Carter received a degree in music from Oakland University and studied at the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music in Boston before forging her jazz career. In 1996, Regina Carter began leading her first band, an "electric band."