Karen Kartal

Violin

Karen has served as concertmaster of the Oak Ridge Symphony since 2004, and is also on the faculty of Pellissippi State Community College. Prior to that she held positions as assistant principal second of the Knoxville Symphony, concertmaster of Lake Charles Symphony and Baton Rouge Opera, and assistant concertmaster of the Louisiana Symphonietta, Marshall Symphony, Longview Opera, South Arkansas Symphony, and the Classical Symphony of Chicago for their Far East Tour. In addition to winning first prize in the concerto competitions at Illinois State, Western Illinois University and Louisiana State University, she has also performed as soloist for many orchestras including Lake Charles, South Arkansas, and Oak Ridge symphonies. Summer festivals she has performed at include Spoleto Italy, Britt, Oregon Coast, Chautauqua, Sewannee, and Round Top International. Karen’s passion is chamber music and in 1991 she won 1st prize in the national level of the MTNA collegiate chamber music competition with her piano trio. She has also been a frequent performer on the Oak Ridge Chamber Series. Karen enjoys teaching and served on the faculty of McNeese State University prior to moving to Knoxville. She currently has a large private teaching studio, and also enjoys performing jazz and fiddle with several local artists. Her primary teachers include Almita Vamos, Camilla, Wicks, and Sally O’Reilly and she has participated in master classes with Jorja Fleezanis, Martin Lovett, and Glenn Dicterow.