Karen Amlaw:
CLASS OF 1987
North High SchoolClass of 1987
Worcester, MA
University of Rochester - Warner SchoolClass of 1993
Rochester, NY
University of RochesterClass of 1991
Rochester, NY
Karen's Story
Life
American soprano Karen Amlaw, semi-finalist in the 2007 Peter Elvins Vocal Competition, returned to singing after a 15 year leave in September 2003. What was at that time a one day a week commitment: singing in choir to get a break from the stresses of life as a restaurant manager has grown into a whole different career focus as a musician, music administrator and educator.
Ms. Amlaw has sung several partial roles including Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Elettra (Idomeneo), Countessa Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), and Agathe (Der Freischütz). She sang Mother Gerald in Boston Opera Collaborative¿s production of Dialogues of the Carmelites under the direction of Michael Strauss and Metropolitan Opera director Marc Astafan and has been featured in programs with Opera Worcester, Mass Theatrica, and Lowell Opera. Most recently she was invited to be the guest artist in a benefit concert at the Worcester Alumni Club; and this past summer Ms. Amlaw returned to Crittenden Opera Studio as Nedda (Pagliacci), Madame Pompous (Too Many Sopranos) and Mariane (Tartuffe). During the 2009-2010 season she will join Calliope Inc. of Boston ¿ covering the title role in scenes from Suor Angelica and singing other Puccini arias and Garbriel in a portion of Haydn¿s The Creation. This summer she will join Worcester Opera Works for Opera Night! on their Summer 2010 Concert Series.
Ms. Amlaw has received merit scholarships to support her operatic studies at both Richard Crittenden¿s Opera Studio and New England Conservatory¿s School of Continuing Education Opera Studio.
In 2004 she appeared with the Master Singers of Worcester as soloist in Beethoven¿s Choral Fantasy, as well as in their Boar¿s Head Festival and Music at the Meeting House concerts. In spring 2005 she covered the principal soprano role and appeared in the double quartet for their performance of Eleanor Daley¿s Requiem.
Equally at home in liturgical settings, Ms. Amlaw has appeared as soloist at several area churches including Wesley United Methodist Church in Worcester, Christ Church in Fitchburg and St. Francis Episcopal Church in Holden. These appearances ha...Expand for more
ve included soprano soloist in Mozart¿s Missa brevis in C and both the mezzo and soprano roles in Handel¿s Messiah and portions of Mozart's Grand Mass in C minor. She was also one of four sopranos, including Maria Ferrante, featured in a choral version of Karg-Elert¿s Symphonic Choral No. 3 with organist Brian Jones in the Organ Dedication Concert Series at the First Unitarian Church of Worcester.
Ms. Amlaw has been a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church Choir and the First Unitarian Church Festival Choir and is frequently invited to join other area choirs for special events. In 2006 she was selected to join the Wesley Festival Singers in a performance of Duruflé¿s Requiem, as well as perform Mendelssohn¿s Elijah in the Annual Spring Choral Concert at the Memorial Congregational Church in Sudbury, MA (a performance in which she was the soprano section leader and member of the solo octet). She also is currently the soprano soloist/section leader for the United Congregational Church in Worcester.
Ms. Amlaw¿s education includes a BA in psychology with a minor in music from the University of Rochester/Eastman School of Music where her principal instrument was violin. She has studied voice with Karen Lykes (currently professor of voice at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music), Maria Ferrante, and world renowned soprano Maria Spacagna. Her coaches have included Brian Moll, Olga Rogach and Bradley Pennington, founder of Boston Bel Canto Opera. She currently is under the tutelage of MET veteran dramatic mezzo Sondra Kelly.
When not singing she can be found using her teaching, marketing and administrative talents in support of artists and music education. Currently, she is the Lesson Administrator/Events Coordinator/Kids on Keys Program Director at Robinson Music Inc. in Westborough, MA, Aria Sing Coordinator for Worcester Opera Works, as well as a marketing resource for local artists. In addition, for the third year in a row, this spring Ms. Amlaw has been invited to adjudicate Opera Worcester's Annual Vocal Scholarship Competition.
She resides in Westborough, MA with her two adopted cats: Deni and Amigo.
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