KAREN ALBERT is a mezzo-soprano specializing in choral, oratorio, and concert repertoire.  She currently resides in Grand Rapids, MI.   

On the concert stage, Ms. Albert has given stirring performances as soloist in works such as Elgar’s Sea Pictures with Gaylord Community Orchestra, Libby Larsen’s Raspberry Island Dreaming with Alpena Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with Holland Symphony Orchestra, Boulanger's Hymne au Soleil with Vox GR, Mozart’s Requiem with First United Methodist Church of Mt. Pleasant, and First Presbyterian Church of Alma, Handel’s Utrecht Te Deum with Choral Society of Grand Rapids), Rutter’s Requiem with Grand Rapids Symphony, and selections from Bach’s Magnificat with Grand Rapids Symphony and Park Congregational Church. She has been a featured recitalist in the First Park Congregational Church Music at Midday concert series as well as the Music Matters lecture and concert series at Cornerstone University. Other notable solo engagements include performances throughout Michigan at the Little Stone Church in Mackinac Island, historic St. Lorenz Lutheran Church in Frankenmuth, Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids, First United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids, and in the VAMS Artist Showcase at the National Opera Center in New York City.

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In addition to her work as a soloist, Ms. Albert is also a member of Grand Rapids' premiere fully professional choral ensemble Vox GR.  She has appeared as an ensemble member with Red Shift Choir of Baton Rouge, LA, and has been featured with the Pine Mountain Music Festival as an UPStart Young Artist.  She received training in choral singing from the Seraphic Fire Professional Choral Institute at the prestigious Aspen Music Festival in Aspen, CO.

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Recent opera credits include the roles of Katisha in The Mikado with CMU Opera Theater, Mrs. McLean in Susannah with West Michigan Opera Project, the title role of Carmen in an opera scenes collage with Operaret, Cio Cio San’s Mother in Madama Butterfly with Soo Opera, and The Sandman in Hansel and Gretel and June in a recorded version of Victor Herbert’s The Girl in the Spotlight with Comic Opera Guild.  She has also performed as a chorus member for various opera productions with Opera Grand Rapids, Pine Mountain Music Festival, and MSU Opera Theater.

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As a musicologist, Ms. Albert has given paper presentations on French-Canadian folk song literature at conferences in Calgary, AB, Canada and Chicago, IL.  She has also presented lecture recitals on various topics, including theological interpretations of J.S. Bach’s oratorio arias and the parallels between ancient and modern vocal literature.  Ms. Albert holds master's degrees in musicology and voice performance from Michigan State University and Central Michigan University, respectively.

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This versatile artist is a staff singer with historic Park Church in Grand Rapids, MI, and with the Diocese of Grand Rapids.  She has taught music history and vocal courses at Cornerstone University and Alma College, and has also taught voice students at both the Michigan State University and Central Michigan University Community Music Schools.  Recently, Ms. Albert sang the role of Queen Priss in a recording of the children's musical The Balachian Prince, as well as appearances with the Beaver Island Festival Chorus at the Baroque on Beaver music festival and Vox GR in Grand Rapids, MI.

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