Faculty
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Karen Szczech
Teaching Artist, Violin Violinist Karen Szczech is a first generation Polish-American from Chicago. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance studying with Dr. Lenora Marya-Anop, a Minor in Psychology while also completing her Suzuki training in Books 1 through 6 with Vera McCoy-Sulentic at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, she continued her musical studies completing a Master’s Degree in Violin Performance from University of Wisconsin-Madison studying under the tutelage of Dr. Dawn Wohn. Prior to her university studies, Karen graduated from The Chicago Academy for the Arts studying violin under Rachel Brown and composition under Jesse Langen. As a violinist and composer, Karen has premiered and performed works in multiple festivals throughout North America and Europe. 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; Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, Nebraska; and Emerald Coast Chamber Music Festival in Florida. Karen’s pieces have been premiered by the Grammy Award winning ensemble, Eighth BlackBird in May of 2016 at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, representing the Kerry James Marshall exhibit. As an ensemble member, she is also the violinist of Chicago Arts Initiative (CAI), directed by Jesse Langen. Throughout the year, Karen can be found teaching and performing with orchestras and chamber ensembles in the Midwest, at St. Fabian Church in Bridgeview as the Children’s Music Director, and at Magical Keys. Magical Keys is a duet, private teaching studio, and non-profit organization that is run with her older sister who is a pianist, harpist, vocalist, and composer, Kasia Szczech-Dlugosz. As a duet they play at special occasions within the Chicago area. As a private teaching studio, they teach children of all ages and provide them with music education on their specific instrument. Lastly, as a non-profit organization, a large-scale production is put together by musicians within the Chicago area called The Magical Keys Christmas Extravaganza, a show by musicians from different backgrounds, who come together to create a magical night to help those in need during the holidays. Every year Magical Keys uses ticket sale proceeds to sponsor organizations in need. |