Impact
In the Community
A tireless advocate for the arts and a leader in her community, Karen Slack is proud to serve in several meaningful artistic and advisory positions with companies including Portland Opera and the Banff Centre for the Performing Arts. She is also a passionate mentor of future generations and a sought-after master class clinician.
Impact
In #Konversation
#KikiKonversations was born in response to COVID-19 as a way for artists and industry leaders to connect during a time of devastating loss. At the height of the pandemic and America's racial awakening, #Konvos emerged as a hit and remains the "go to place" for lively, heartfelt, hilarious and meaningful conversations over a virtual glass of wine.
LEADERSHIP
In addition to her singing career, Karen is honored to serve as Portland Opera's Artistic Advisor. In this newly created position, Karen participates in season planning, casting, community engagement, and anti-racism work helping to further Portland Opera's mission to make their stages more fully represent Portland's diverse community. Karen was critical in selecting Portland Opera's 2020-21 season Studio Artists, alongside fellow Artistic Advisor Damien Geter, in establishing the nation's first all BIPOC class of singers. She works directly with the artists through coaching, mentoring, diction and language training to ensure the next generation of world class talented singers have the skills needed to be successful.
In 2020, Karen was named the Co-Director of the Banff Centre for the Performing Arts in Alberta, Canada. Her position at Banff is designed to collaborate with Artistic Director Joel Ivany to create a re-imagined program called “Opera in the 21st Century.” The program recognizes and develops a diverse and inclusive group of singers through masterclasses, repertoire coaching, sessions on race and gender, and the effects of non-diverse spaces in the arts. As Co-Director she also creates workshops with the students that guide them in the creative process and help them curate and shape their personal artistic projects.
As a tireless advocate of the Arts, Karen brought almost three decades of international singing experience to her role as the Co-Chair of OPERA America's Women’s Opera Network (2020-2023). In that space, she represented singers and BIPOC artists looking to transition into arts administration. Karen worked alongside the industry's most successful and innovative females who are leading the charge for more women to gain a seat at the table in spaces designed for artistic creation and advocacy.
MY JOURNEY TO MENTORSHIP
My years of study have blessed my life beyond belief with great teachers, coaches and mentors. They have given me an immeasurable amount of knowledge of the classical vocal arts which has not only allowed me to grow as an artist, but more importantly as a human being armed with a deep understanding of my craft. Throughout my career, I have encountered many wonderfully gifted young singers who have encouraged me to combine my abilities with the confidence to pay it forward through teaching. It has been an immense pleasure and honor to mentor many talented artists and pass my knowledge on to the next generation of singers through the masterclass experience.
Karen gives a guest artist masterclass at Oberlin Conservatory where she works with students on vocal technique and stage craft.
Michelle Ellison, soprano singing "Porgi Amor" from Le Nozze di Figaro by W.A. Mozart
These young singers have touched my life more than they know and beyond my wildest dreams. Some have become my 'babies' of sorts allowing me to share my musical thoughts, give them sound advice straight up, with no sugar coating (but always lots of love), and push them to be better than they were when they walked into the room. It has been such a gift from above to join them in this crazy journey of becoming great artists and see their potential come to fruition. What a joy it is to see their faces light up when they make an unbelievably beautiful open sound or get through a difficult phrase for the first time. I now understand what my teachers over all these years must have felt. It takes an incredible amount of humanity and humility to be a great teacher; a completely open hearted generously supportive spirit who is called a mentor. I believe, just like singing, that this is my calling and I am so grateful to be able to embrace them both.
I would like to thank my own mentors for inspiring me and helping me to become the person I am today - Mikael Eliasen, Sheri Greenawald, Jake Heggie & Evelyn Lear.
If you are interested in working in the studio please email me: KarenSlackSoprano@gmail.com to schedule an appointment.
FULL LIST OF MASTERCLASSES
Arizona State University
Babson College/Cornell One Composer
Bellermine College
Boston Conservatory
Canadian Opera Company
Claftin University
Consumes River College
Curtis Institute of Music
Emory Henry College
Huston-Tillotson University
Indiana University
Ithaca College
Jackson State University
Kiri TeKanawa Programme, Auckland, New Zealand
KY Governor's School
Miami University
Minot State University
Oakwood University
Oberlin College-Conservatory
Royal Conservatory of Music- Toronto
Salisbury University
Smith College
Tennessee State University
TN Governor's School
UNC Charlotte
University of Alberta
University of British Columbia
University of Denver
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
University of Maryland
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota
University of Missouri-Kansas City
University of Montana
University of Texas-Austin
University of Toronto
University of Wisconsin-Madison
USC Thornton School of Music
West Virginia University
Westminster Choir College
#KIKIKONVERSATIONS
#KikiKonversations is a Facebook live talk show that premiered on April 23, 2020. #Konvos was born out of a conversation at Karen's dining room table a month into the COVID-19 pandemic as a way for artists and industry leaders to connect during a time when the entire performing arts sector had been hit with devastating loss. At the height of the pandemic and America's racial awakening, #Konvos very quickly emerged as a hit and the "go to place" to hear lively, heartfelt, hilarious and meaningful conversations over a virtual glass of wine.
Since its debut Karen has hosted conversations with several luminaries and leaders in classical music including mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe, tenor Russell Thomas, soprano Aprile Millo, composer and Jazz legend Terence Blanchard, Editor in Chief of Opera News F. Paul Driscoll, and rising stars such as mezzo-soprano J’nai Bridges and countertenor John Holiday among many others.
New episodes go live every Thursday at 8pm ET on the Facebook fan page, Karen Slack, soprano and are available the next day on Karen's YouTube Page #KikiKonversations by Karen Slack, Soprano.
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