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AboutHave you ever been frustrated by your voice? Do you cringe when you hear your voice--like when you hear a recording of yourself? Do people make fun of your voice?
That used to be Karen Lyu years ago. This is her now - click here! Karen is the #1 Jazz Artist in Korea on Reverbnation! Karen's passion for singing, and struggle with her own voice, have led her to over a dozen voice instructors--including Roberta Davis (Berklee School of Music) and Dr. Oren Brown (Juilliard), researching various methods--including Seth Riggs' Speech Level Singing and Dr. Morton Cooper's ("The Voice Doctor") and voiceover training with Don Cosgrove (The Talent Center), various holistic health workers, and over 20 years of voice coaching. Most recently, she just earned New Science of Singing voice instructor certification! Because of all this research and experience, Karen has been recognized as a voice expert by eHow.com, EzineArticles.com, VocalDisorders.org (formerly VoiceMatters.net), TRCB.com, TheModernVocalistWorld.com, StarTribune.com, Asian American Press and, most recently, Russell Howard ("Russell Howard and Mum: Globetrotters" air date tba 2019). Additionally, she is an international member of the Voice and Speech Trainers Association. Karen loves to share what she's learned, and has inspired over 600 students to improve their voices! Karen has helped absolute beginners to untrained pro singers, speakers and actors, from students age 8 to 80 since 1997. She started singing professionally in 1993, and has explored all kinds of voice solutions since 1989. Born in Seoul, Korea, Karen grew up with her hard-working immigrant family (Mom was a registered nurse and Dad was an acupuncturist) in California, Texas, and Minnesota. She then got her Jazz Studies degree in Vocal Performance at Cornell College in Iowa, and also lived in Nashville, Tennessee. She now enjoys living back in Seoul, South Korea, and has been fortunate to travel and perform in the US, South Korea, Europe, Southeast Asia, Central America, and Brazil. An award-winning artist, over the years, she has been fortunate to be a member of Karen Lyu & Fresh Jazz, Ben and Karen Duo, Yoo and Karen Duo, Global Jazz, Karen Lyu Quartet, Robert Robinson's Minneapolis Community College Gospel Choir, Morris Wilson Band, Pacha Mamas, Via Brasil, Bomba, Jazz Transit, Eddie Piccard Trio, and also has sung as a solo vocalist since 1993. Karen's singing has been featured on National Public Radio, documentary film, TV, radio, cable, and on all kinds of stages. She has 2 of her own recordings - Karen Lyu and Global Jazz Live! and Karen Lyu and Fresh Jazz - and also has recorded with a number of other artists, groups and compilations. In 2010, she received a NashvilleMuse songwriting award and a MusiCares/Grammy Foundation emergency grant. In 2007, Minnesota State Arts Board cultural collaboration grant was given to Karen and to Maryam Yusefzadeh to create and produce an original musical. Also, she has experience acting for theater, DVDs, and online video (www.backstage.com/u/karenlyu). And, Karen is the first Korean-American jazz singer ever to record in the US. In Minnesota, Karen became widely known for her 5 years at West Bank School of Music as the head voice instructor, and for also becoming a board member, then board chair, then Executive Director at the age of 33. At that time, there were 30 faculty members and over 500 music students a year. She was honored to serve as the Executive Director for 2 years and to help save the beloved, legendary community music school from closing. In addition, Karen has offered group learning experiences for various topics, such as "If You Can Speak, You Can Sing", "News Anchor English", "How to Prevent Losing Your Voice", "Speak Clearly", and "Empower Your Voice for Women" at West Bank School of Music, Dreamland Arts, Walker Community Church, One World Festival, Pronoia Fest, her former independent studio and by teleconference. Music update published in the Fall 2017 issue of Korean Quarterly Newspaper - * Seoul Tunes - A Minneapolis singer sticks to her dreams, continues a jazz vocal career in Korea. |