Karen Ganz

Pianist Karen Olsen Ganz brings with her vast experience as both collaborator and teacher.  An active recitalist and vocal coach, Karen spent four years on staff at the University of Montana, where she was awarded an individual Artist Fellowship by the Montana Arts Council.  Holding Master's Degrees in both Piano/Accompanying and English/Literature, Karen also has a Doctorate in Collaborative Piano from Boston's New England Conservatory.  In Massachusetts, Karen was staff pianist and vocal coach at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and taught Music History at the New England Conservatory.  Karen has appeared in    recital with members of the New Mexico Symphony, including violist Kim Fredenburgh, flutist Valerie Potter, and trombonist Debbie Taylor.  In the summer of 2003, Karen and bass trombonist Chris Gassler, along with percussionist Scott Ney, recorded their first commercial CD.  Karen worked in Albuquerque as a freelance collaborative pianist and vocal coach, and was a founding member of the Bosque Chamber Music Society and the Oasis Duo.  Currently Karen is a member of the piano faculty at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where she was recently awarded the Henry Alexander Endowed Professorship in Music.