Highly praised as a recitalist, concert singer and ensemble director, contralto Karen R. Clark’s performances of medieval to modern music have been heard worldwide. In early music, Karen has performed and recorded with eminent ensembles such as Boston Camerata, Sequentia, Waverly Consort, and Joshua Rifkin’s Bach Ensemble. In 2016, the American Record Guide wrote: “Karen R. Clark has a beautiful voice that shows flexibility and nuance. Her performance is gorgeous.” Karen is founder and director of the professional women’s vocal ensemble Vajra Voices, whose new CD, “O Eterne Deus: Music of Hildegard von Bingen,” is receiving international acclaim. In new music, Clark has premiered works by leading composers, including Joseph Schwantner, Ben Johnston, Fred Frith and Roy Whelden. Her recording with the Galax Quartet “On Cold Mountain: Songs on Poems of Gary Snyder” prompted music critic Joshua Kosman to write: “It’s mesmerizing in its unplaceable timelessness. Clark’s majestic, throaty singing hints of modernist extravagance and medieval troubadours.” (San Francisco Chronicle) Karen holds degrees from the Indiana University School of Music where she studied with Virginia Zeani and Thomas Binkley. A devoted singing and Feldenkrais teacher, Karen has taught at Princeton University, Sonoma State University, the Thornton School of Music at University of Southern California, and UC Berkeley.