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About the Artistic Director
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Dr.
Karen Davis Bernard holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in applied voice from the State University of New York at Geneseo and
a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from West Chester University. In 1990, Dr. Bernard was awarded a scholarship
and teaching assistantship from the University of Miami. Dr. Bernard graduated from U.M. in 1995 with a Doctor of Musical
Arts degree in vocal performance. While studying in Miami, Dr. Bernard sang numerous leading roles with the opera workshop
including Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor, Violetta in La Traviata, Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute,
and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni. Dr. Bernard was guest soloist with the U.M. Concert Choir in Carl Orff's Carmina
Burana, and also performed works for three marimbas and soprano by Villa Lobos/Rosauro with the renowned University of
Miami Percussion Ensemble.
Dr. Bernard performed her
first major role (Yum-Yum in The Mikado) at age 22 with Berks Grand Opera in Reading, PA. Since that time, she has
performed minor leading roles with the Gold Coast Opera in Ft. Lauderdale and The Pennsylvania Opera Theatre in Philadelphia.
Dr. Bernard has toured Italy as soprano soloist with the Universita di Siena orchestra, and in 1992, was one of twelve voice
teachers in the country chosen for the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) summer intern program. In 1993,
Dr. Bernard won the Florida title in the NATS Artist Award competition. She also performed in the Leyerle Publications Showcase
at the NATS Golden Anniversary Convention in Tampa.
Included among the teachers
with whom Dr. Bernard has had the privilege of studying are Dr. James McKinney (The Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults),
Richard Miller (The Structure of Singing), William Leyerle (Vocal Development through Organic Imagery), and Dr. David Alt,
Chairman of the Voice and Musical Theater Department at the University of Miami.
Dr. Bernard has served as
choir director and soloist at various churches from the time she entered college. Teaching and ensemble singing are her true
passions. Dr. Bernard taught as an adjunct professor at Broward Community College (Central and North campuses) in south Florida.
She also served as music teacher for Western Elementary School in 1988. While in Florida, Dr. Bernard formed "Soiree", a vocal
jazz quartet of voice majors from the University of Miami School of Music.
Since moving to Barrow
County, Dr. Bernard has organized and directed several community benefit concerts including "Broadway in Barrow" and "A Musical
Journey Through Time"-both for the benefit of Keep Barrow Beautiful (a subsidiary of Keep America Beautiful), "An Evening of Praise" - four consecutive years of multi-church choir concerts to benefit the Barrow Food
Pantry and The Tree House (a children's advocacy organization), and classical and Broadway music for the Peace Place Gala
in 2000. Dr. Bernard resides in Bethlehem, GA with her husband and daughter where
she teaches private voice lessons from her home music studio.
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About the Pianist
Mrs. Katrina (Katie) Wilson was born into a musical
family, and first began performing on the piano at age six. She first accompanied her sisters who played flute, violin, trombone,
and trumpet at age eight, then starting in sixth grade, accompanied her school choir. By the eleventh grade, Katie held her
first position as a church accompanist.
During her school years,
Katie studied with Irene Kolkema of Muskegon, Michigan. Later, she was accepted into the piano studio of Steven Masi, professor
at the Manhattan School of Music and remained under his tutelage for one year.
Katie moved from Michigan
to Georgia to attend Kennesaw State University. In 1997, Katie was hired as piano accompanist by First Presbyterian Church
in Winder, GA where she served until spring of 2002.
Because of her strong sight-reading
skills and ability to master challenging music, Katie has been invited to accompany and perform solos in numerous musical
productions since moving to Barrow County. Among them are "A Musical Journey Through Time", "Highlights from Gilbert and Sullivan",
and the Peace Place Gala 2000. When she is not accompanying, Katie sings alto with The Georgia Vocal Project, works for her
family's business, and continues to renovate and restore her family's historical home. Katie lives in Winder, GA with her
husband, Darian and their three children.
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