Meet Karen Kelley | Opera Singer | Mezzo-Soprano

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karen Kelley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I love the dynamic nature of a creative career. I’ve always been a person who is okay with change and actually welcomes it. As someone who is naturally more reserved, singing has given me a way to express myself in a variety of facets that I wouldn’t be able to otherwise. I also love the diverse, fantastic group of people it has allowed me both to reach and meet. The joy of constantly learning new things and being inspired by others’ abilities and knowledge in the industry lights a fire in me that no other pursuit outside of singing has given me. It is truly a gift that I try my best not to take for granted. I am thankful every single day for getting the opportunity to grow with and share this artform.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Getting to where I’m at today has been a journey with a lot of little and big bumps in the road and one hundred percent worth it. I’ve always had a love for travel and music. I was fortunate to grow up with two very musical parents. My mom played the organ in our local church and my dad went around on small, local tours with his bluegrass band, which was one of the ways I grew to see just how vital music making can be to building a community between people (shoutout to the Porchpickers!).

Music was always something I loved and did for fun. It wasn’t until I was a couple months out from graduating high school that I learned I could pursue it as a career and, even then, didn’t yet know about opera or performance as a degree track. I won’t go into too much detail here, but I grew up in a school system and small town community that didn’t encourage the arts very much. In fact, I was met with many discouragements from school admin and other adults that I looked up to at the time when trying to pursue singing. I was told it wouldn’t benefit me in the long run and the only degree I could really get in it is Music Education.

Yet, despite all the pushback, singing and performing is something that has consistently found me, gotten me through tough spots, and been my reason to keep going. I’ve been fortunate to have teachers, coaches, directors, conductors, etc. who have poured into me generously with their lives and wisdom, helping me to realize aspects about myself I didn’t know before they did. Being a young dramatic voice comes with several unique challenges that I simply never would have been able to navigate on my own. To all the young singers out there, establish a close team of people you trust as quickly as you can and stick with them. It’s not easy, but it is possible and rewarding.

The past year has been especially exciting. After graduating with my Masters last May, I wasn’t sure what would be next, which was equal parts terrifying and exhilarating. So, I applied to everything I possibly could. Another piece of advice I would offer is that this industry will not go looking for you. You have to really go after it, and that means being rejected a LOT. To give some context, I sent in over 80 applications last season, most of which I never got invited to do an audition. However, the small number who did want to hear me ended up being enough, and I count myself very fortunate for that because I know that is not everyone’s experience. Auditions are a separate skill all their own, and I will continue to hone that skill for the rest of my time as a singer. After many tedious applications, audition trips, and sleepless nights, I had the opportunity to accept and participate in programs with both Sarasota Opera and the Santa Fe Opera this season. I have grown so much musically and mentally through these two experiences and can’t wait to utilize what I’ve learned in the years to come. There is always something new to learn and share when it comes to singing, which is one of my favorite things about it!

I love telling a story through song. I love moments of silence between singing that feel alive and buzzing with energy. I love being in community with a diverse, crazy, fantastic group of artists. I love travelling to unknown places and experiencing rich cultures. I love music and all it has gifted to me and so many. And this is why I love opera and hope others will too.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m in the midst of transitioning to a new city at the moment (I’ll take any great suggestions for things to experience in Boise!), but I’ve spent the last several years in Tempe, AZ, so allow me to give you a few suggestions for your next trip there!

There are many neat things to do in Tempe and the surrounding area. When I lived there, I was right next to the Arizona State University campus downtown. My favorite place to go take walks was at the Tempe Town Lake. It’s always nice to have some water views when you’re surrounded by desert. It feels out of place, but in the best way! There’s a great walking/biking trail that surrounds the perimeter of the lake, and there are many fun boating options on the lake as well. Not too far from the lake are the Desert Botanical Gardens and the Phoenix Zoo. Both of these make for fun half day or so long excursions. My favorite place to visit, however, is the Musical Instrument Museum, or MIM for short. A bit of a drive north from Tempe, this museum holds thousands of unique instruments from all corners of the world, with demonstrations and videos of the cultural context and sounds for each one. I’ve been three different times for hours at a time and still haven’t seen every single exhibit in that place! There is also a beautiful recital hall space in one half of the building where they host concerts and recitals year round. Other honorable mentions for things to do include tubing the salt river and getting pizza at organ stop (it’s dinner and a show with an organ that comes out of the floor. I won’t spoil anything, but if you’re in town you have to go just to say you’ve experienced it once!).

Options for food and drink are essentially limitless there is so much to choose from! For breakfast, my favorite spot in town by far is Snooze am eatery in downtown Tempe. To this day, my favorite pancakes I have ever had. Some of my favorite lunch/dinner spots include Lolo’s chicken & waffles, Curry corner, Thai basil, Salad ‘n Go, and Fate Brewing Company. For coffee, I like going to King Coffee, Cartel Roasting co., and Infusion Coffee & Tea Crafters. I also have to give a shoutout to my favorite hangout spot with the best boba tea, bubble waffles, and good vibes in town: Mango Rabbit!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It is so essential to have an inner support system while navigating the world of an operatic career. Some of the people you spend the most time with and who know things about you before you do at times are your voice teachers. I have had the privilege of studying under two fantastic divas, both incredible artists, throughout my vocal journey thus far: Jane Munson-Berg and Stephanie Weiss.

I was placed in Jane’s studio as a freshman in undergrad who had no idea what opera even was. She insisted I perform in opera scenes and compete my first semester, literally throwing me head first into the deep end of something I knew so very little about. I fell in love with opera after that, and the rest is history I suppose. Thank you, Jane!

In 2018, I attended a program called AIMS (The American Institute of Musical Studies) in Graz, Austria, where I met Stephanie. The way she taught clicked with me immediately, and she has helped me navigate through a lot vocally and mentally. She has been one of my biggest supporters since then, has seen me through grad school at Arizona State, and remains my primary teacher today. Thank you, Stephanie! You are the best!!

Also, a very special shoutout to my parents Wyn & June for your constant supportive presence in my life. You have seen me through a lot of big moves, career highs/lows, and everything in between. I love you both so much!!

Website: https://www.karenkelleymezzo.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k_squared_mezzo/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.s.kelley.10

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHB1CR5oi5BX8cwL6lNwXng

Image Credits
Curtis Brown Photography Reg Madison