Karen Holvik
Encyclopedia
Karen Holvik is a classical soprano
. She is the daughter of Karl Holvik (1921-2003), clarinetist and conductor, who was Professor of Music at the University of Northern Iowa
between 1947 and 1984, and Martha Holvik (b. 1920), violinist, violist, pianist and soprano, who also taught at UNI and founded the UNI Suzuki School in 1976.
Holvik was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa
. She gained a Master's Degree and Performer's Certificate in Opera at the Eastman School of Music, and settled in New York City where she continued to build a large repertoire of concert music, oratorio and operatic works. She appeared with Western Opera Theater, Texas Opera Theatre, Houston Grand Opera, Opera Illinois, Opera Festival of New Jersey, and Anchorage Opera. Her operatic roles include Susanna, Constanze, Sandrina, Adina, Lucia, Juliette, Micaela, Miss Wordsworth, Tytania and Baby Doe. She has toured extensively in the United States, Western Europe and Canada, singing both popular and classical repertoire.
Ms. Holvik was successful in vocal competitions including the Oratorio Society of New York, the Liederkranz Foundation, the American Opera Auditions, and Joy in Singing, which sponsored her debut recital in Alice Tully Hall. Her debut at Avery Fisher Hall
in the Richard Tucker Gala Concert was recorded by RCA Victor Red Seal
, and she made her Carnegie Hall
debut singing Handel's
Messiah
with the Masterwork Chorus and Orchestra, David Briskin, conductor.
Having begun her singing life in the world of popular music and jazz, Holvik has been a champion of contemporary American song and opera, and has premiered works by Ricky Ian Gordon, Aaron Kernis, John Musto, James Sellars, Tom Cipullo, Stewart Wallace
and Richard Wilson. She appears with William Sharp
and pianist Steven Blier on a New York Festival of Song
recording released by Koch International Classics called Zipperfly & Other Songs by Marc Blitzstein
.
Ms. Holvik studied with John Maloy, Jan DeGaetani, Arleen Auger, and Robert C. White, Jr. She began her teaching career at the University of Missouri
, and has subsequently taught at Vassar College, New York University and the Eastman School of Music. She is currently on the voice faculty of the New England Conservatory.
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
. She is the daughter of Karl Holvik (1921-2003), clarinetist and conductor, who was Professor of Music at the University of Northern Iowa
University of Northern Iowa
The University of Northern Iowa is a college located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States. UNI offers more than 120 majors across the colleges of Business Administration, Education, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral sciences, and graduate college.UNI has...
between 1947 and 1984, and Martha Holvik (b. 1920), violinist, violist, pianist and soprano, who also taught at UNI and founded the UNI Suzuki School in 1976.
Holvik was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Cedar Falls is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States, and it is home to one of Iowa's three public universities, the University of Northern Iowa. The population was 39,260 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 36,145 population in the 2000 census...
. She gained a Master's Degree and Performer's Certificate in Opera at the Eastman School of Music, and settled in New York City where she continued to build a large repertoire of concert music, oratorio and operatic works. She appeared with Western Opera Theater, Texas Opera Theatre, Houston Grand Opera, Opera Illinois, Opera Festival of New Jersey, and Anchorage Opera. Her operatic roles include Susanna, Constanze, Sandrina, Adina, Lucia, Juliette, Micaela, Miss Wordsworth, Tytania and Baby Doe. She has toured extensively in the United States, Western Europe and Canada, singing both popular and classical repertoire.
Ms. Holvik was successful in vocal competitions including the Oratorio Society of New York, the Liederkranz Foundation, the American Opera Auditions, and Joy in Singing, which sponsored her debut recital in Alice Tully Hall. Her debut at Avery Fisher Hall
Avery Fisher Hall
Avery Fisher Hall is a concert hall, in New York City and is part of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts complex. It is the home of the New York Philharmonic, with a capacity of 2,738 seats.-History:...
in the Richard Tucker Gala Concert was recorded by RCA Victor Red Seal
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
, and she made her Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
debut singing Handel's
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
Messiah
Messiah (Handel)
Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...
with the Masterwork Chorus and Orchestra, David Briskin, conductor.
Having begun her singing life in the world of popular music and jazz, Holvik has been a champion of contemporary American song and opera, and has premiered works by Ricky Ian Gordon, Aaron Kernis, John Musto, James Sellars, Tom Cipullo, Stewart Wallace
Stewart Wallace
Stewart Wallace is an American composer and cantor. He has spent much of his career composing experimental operas, from the dance-centered Kabbalah to the surrealist Hopper's Wife...
and Richard Wilson. She appears with William Sharp
William Sharp
William Sharp may refer to:*William Sharp , English engraver*William Sharp , English-born lithographer and painter; lived in Boston, Massachusetts...
and pianist Steven Blier on a New York Festival of Song
New York Festival of Song
The New York Festival of Song presents an annual series of concerts in New York City dedicated to the art of song, classical, modern and popular...
recording released by Koch International Classics called Zipperfly & Other Songs by Marc Blitzstein
Marc Blitzstein
Marcus Samuel Blitzstein, better known as Marc Blitzstein , was an American composer. He won national attention in 1937 when his pro-union musical The Cradle Will Rock, directed by Orson Welles, was shut down by the Works Progress Administration...
.
Ms. Holvik studied with John Maloy, Jan DeGaetani, Arleen Auger, and Robert C. White, Jr. She began her teaching career at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, and has subsequently taught at Vassar College, New York University and the Eastman School of Music. She is currently on the voice faculty of the New England Conservatory.