11:00 a.m. Professional Development Program
Karen Szczech, Chicago Center for Music Education: Violin Teaching Artist
Magical Keys: Principal Violinist & Instructor
“Large Room Music”
Large Room Music, also known as Chamber Music, is an essential part in any musician's career path. This presentation will focus on the importance of collaboration with other individuals, other instruments, and new ideas. In addition, there will be a discussion on how we can provide ourselves and other musicians opportunities to expand our own chamber music palette and the audience's that are listening.
BIOGRAPHY
Violinist Karen Szczech is a first-generation Polish-American from Chicago, Illinois. Receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance, a Minor in Psychology, and completing her Suzuki Method training at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, she continued her musical studies completing a Master’s Degree in Violin Performance from University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, she has studied closely with Dr. Nicholas Hatt, Dr. Kinga Augustyn, and Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier. Prior to her university studies, Karen graduated from The Chicago Academy for the Arts studying violin and composition.
As a violinist and composer, Karen has premiered and performed works in festivals nationally and internationally. Such festivals include: Darmstadt New Music Festival in Darmstadt, Germany; Omaha Under the Radar in Omaha, Nebraska; Ear Taxi Festival; Chicago Trio Workshop in Chicago, Illinois; Emerald Coast Chamber Music Festival in Florida; and Chicago Summer Opera. Karen’s pieces have been premiered by the Grammy Award winning ensembles, such as, Eighth BlackBird at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.
As the Founder and Principal Violinist, throughout the year Karen can be found teaching and performing at Magical Keys Institute of Music, Magical Keys Duo, and Magical Keys which is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to provide the community with free access to live high-quality performances and music education. Furthermore, Karen can be found teaching at the Chicago Center for Music Education (ChiME), and at St. Fabian Church in Bridgeview as the Children’s Music Director. An active chamber and orchestral musician, Karen regularly performs with chamber ensembles and symphony orchestras in the Midwest.