Rhea Carmon is the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra's inaugural Poet-in-Residence for the 2026-27 season. A Knoxville native, former Poet Laureate of the City of Knoxville, and award-winning poet, educator, author, and spoken-word artist, Carmon has spent more than 20 years writing and performing throughout Tennessee and beyond.

Known professionally as RheaSunshine, she has inspired audiences through performances, workshops, festivals, and community programs that explore the power of storytelling and the arts. As Poet-in-Residence, Carmon collaborates with the KSO across performances, educational programs, and community initiatives, contributing original poetry, narration, and creative projects that connect music and literature.

Carmon serves as a Mathematics Instructor at the University of Tennessee and is a doctoral candidate in Children's and Young Adult Literature. She is also a Tennessee Teaching Artist and the founder and Executive Director of The 5th Woman Cohort, a poetry and performance collective dedicated to amplifying stories and creating opportunities for artists to share their voices.

The Poet-in-Residence program is sponsored by Julia Caroline White.