Karen Ferry
Karen Lela Ferry, 15, began her violin studies at age 3 with Deborah Moench of Salt Lake City and is currently a student of Ralph Matson, concertmaster of the Utah Symphony. Karen is a three-time winner of the Utah Symphony Youth Guild Competition (2016, 2014, 2013), 1st place winner of the ASTA Stringfest at Weber State University (2016, 2012) and 1st place winner of the UMTA Concerto Competition Elementary and Jr. High Divisions (2014, 2013). In January 2015 Karen was awarded honorable mention in the MINA Performance Competition, Southwest Junior Strings Division in Santa Barbara, having won 1St place in the MTNA Junior Strings Division for Utah. In July 2013 she was awarded 3rd place in the Stradivarius International Competition, Utah Division.
Karen made her orchestral debut at age 7 with Utah Philharmonic Orchestra and in September 2014 was a featured soloist with the Utah Symphony on its annual "Salute to Youth" concert, performing the Saint-Saens Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Vladimir Kulenovic, conducting. Karen has been coached in master classes by Robert Lipsett of the Colburn School of Music; Kathryn Eberle of the Utah Symphony; Stefan Jackiw of the Julliard School of Music, and Daniel Ching of the Miro String Quartet.
In the summer of 2015 Karen attended the four-week Indiana String Academy at Indiana University where she did intense training with Grigory Kalinovsky. In both 2016 and 2015 Karen was selected by audition to represent Box Elder High School as a first violinist in the Utah Music Educators Association All-State Orchestra. On March 11, 2016 Karen was featured with Alex Boye on a PBS special "Celebrate America" produced by Time Janis showcasing young performers from across the nation.
As a full-scholarship student of the Gifted Music School Orchestra, Karen has performed with world- renowned artists and pedagogues Roberto Diaz (2016, 2015), Jenny Oaks Baker (2014), Leon Fleisher (2013), Andres Cardenes (2013), Joseph Silverstein (2012) and Bill McLauglin (2011). In 2009 she was featured with the Gifted Music School Orchestra on Christopher O'Riley's nationally acclaimed NPR program, "From the Top" and in 2012 and 2013 on KBYU's Route 89 classical music program. With the orchestra, she helped raise $40,000 for the Children's Justice Center by performing on its "Sounds for Hope" benefit concert.
Karen has received numerous superior ratings on violin and piano from the National Federation of Music Clubs and the Utah High School Activities Association. Karen participated in the Intermountain Suzuki String Institute and Advanced String Camp for several years where members of the Fry Street Quartet of Utah State University coached her. Karen was a six-year member of the Rocky Mountain Strings, a group of 45 young violinists from along the Wasatch front with whom she concertized in Belgium and France the summer of 2011.
Karen is the youngest of seven siblings all of whom are pursuing music on a collegiate or professional level. Together they have been featured on concerts in the Box Elder County Tabernacle, the Salt Lake City Recital Hall, the LDS Assembly Hall, the BYU Concert Series, SLC's Excellence in the Community Concert Series and at numerous charity, community and political events. Karen is a 10th grade honor student at Box Elder High School where she maintains a 4.0 GPA. In addition to music, she enjoys singing, running, tap dancing, and braiding hair. She lives with her family in Corinne, Utah on their family-owned and operated farm and cattle ranch.
Karen made her orchestral debut at age 7 with Utah Philharmonic Orchestra and in September 2014 was a featured soloist with the Utah Symphony on its annual "Salute to Youth" concert, performing the Saint-Saens Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Vladimir Kulenovic, conducting. Karen has been coached in master classes by Robert Lipsett of the Colburn School of Music; Kathryn Eberle of the Utah Symphony; Stefan Jackiw of the Julliard School of Music, and Daniel Ching of the Miro String Quartet.
In the summer of 2015 Karen attended the four-week Indiana String Academy at Indiana University where she did intense training with Grigory Kalinovsky. In both 2016 and 2015 Karen was selected by audition to represent Box Elder High School as a first violinist in the Utah Music Educators Association All-State Orchestra. On March 11, 2016 Karen was featured with Alex Boye on a PBS special "Celebrate America" produced by Time Janis showcasing young performers from across the nation.
As a full-scholarship student of the Gifted Music School Orchestra, Karen has performed with world- renowned artists and pedagogues Roberto Diaz (2016, 2015), Jenny Oaks Baker (2014), Leon Fleisher (2013), Andres Cardenes (2013), Joseph Silverstein (2012) and Bill McLauglin (2011). In 2009 she was featured with the Gifted Music School Orchestra on Christopher O'Riley's nationally acclaimed NPR program, "From the Top" and in 2012 and 2013 on KBYU's Route 89 classical music program. With the orchestra, she helped raise $40,000 for the Children's Justice Center by performing on its "Sounds for Hope" benefit concert.
Karen has received numerous superior ratings on violin and piano from the National Federation of Music Clubs and the Utah High School Activities Association. Karen participated in the Intermountain Suzuki String Institute and Advanced String Camp for several years where members of the Fry Street Quartet of Utah State University coached her. Karen was a six-year member of the Rocky Mountain Strings, a group of 45 young violinists from along the Wasatch front with whom she concertized in Belgium and France the summer of 2011.
Karen is the youngest of seven siblings all of whom are pursuing music on a collegiate or professional level. Together they have been featured on concerts in the Box Elder County Tabernacle, the Salt Lake City Recital Hall, the LDS Assembly Hall, the BYU Concert Series, SLC's Excellence in the Community Concert Series and at numerous charity, community and political events. Karen is a 10th grade honor student at Box Elder High School where she maintains a 4.0 GPA. In addition to music, she enjoys singing, running, tap dancing, and braiding hair. She lives with her family in Corinne, Utah on their family-owned and operated farm and cattle ranch.