Kari Kraakevik | |
---|---|
Born | Fairfax, Virginia | 21 March 1986
Genres | Classical music, jazz, americana |
Occupation(s) | composer, performer and teacher |
Years active | 2008 – |
Kari Kraakevik (Fairfax, Virginia, March 21, 1986) is an American composer, performer and teacher.
In 2009, she became the first female composer to graduate from the music program at Pepperdine University. [1] She was also awarded the "Most Outstanding Graduate Award" for her achievements in music composition, theory, and voice. This, in part, led to a full-ride scholarship and a stipend position as a Master's student at the University of Colorado Boulder. [2]
Her large scale composition during this time was a piece for voice, chamber ensemble and electronics, entitled "Lost Angeles to Los Angel," which was awarded the Levy Prize in 2011. In 2013, Kraakevik entered the world of entrepreneurship while simultaneously maintaining affiliate faculty positions at the University of Colorado and Metro University in Denver. Her first endeavor was founding Reel Kids, a creative space that encourages students to explore various artistic forms. In 2015, she purchased the long-established music school Wildflower School of Voice and expanded it into what is now Boulder Music. [3] [4] [5]
As a performer, Kraakevik has appeared in both equity and non-equity productions nationwide, including roles such as "Serena" in "Fame" and "Lucy" in "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown." She has also premiered new works by fellow composers and performed solos at Carnegie Hall. Recently, she co-founded the jazz duo "Take Two" with her husband, pianist Joshua Rich. [6] [7]
Kraakevik continues to compose, with recent works like "Fabric of Sound," a multimedia piece interpreting fabric textures through a sensory lens, commissioned by Cellists for Change and scheduled for performance at the Center for Neurodiversity in Spring 2025. [8] [5]
Kari Kraakevik is an ASCAP composer, SEAMUS composer, NATS member, and a member of the International Alliance for Women in Music. [5]
Albums: Jazz duo, Take Two:
Singles:
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