A Detroit native, Karyl Carlson was fortunate to have a formative music education in Redford, Michigan. With early studies of piano, then bassoon and voice, Carlson credits her early music education as the origin for her current success. Carlson is now in her thirteenth year as Director of Choral Activities at Illinois State University where she conducts the Concert Choir, Madrigal Singers, and teaches graduate conducting. She came to central Illinois after serving as Director of Choral Activities and Associate Chair of the music department of Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington where she conducted the Chamber Choir, taught graduate

conducting, and undergraduate music education courses. She earned music education degrees from the University of Michigan and had the great fortune to start her teaching career at Franklin Elementary School in Sterling, IL. Further graduate study led her to a master of music education at the University of Illinois. Before earning her doctor of music arts from Michigan State University, studying with Charles K. Smith, she taught in the public schools for twelve years in Miami, Florida. There she was Director of Vocal Music Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School, Miami Lakes Junior High, and then at the famed New World School of the Arts in Miami, FL. Having

taught at every level, from elementary general music to auditioned collegiate choirs, Carlson has a unique and abiding appreciation for choral music educators.

 

In 2016, Carlson developed a choral festival as an ACDA urban initiative, JOIN VOICES, CHICAGO!, that brought over 500 students together in a non-competitive environment of performing and learning. The festival was funded in part with a grant from ACDA’s Fund for Tomorrow. As a strong initiator of music and arts advocacy, she is in frequent contact with legislators regarding arts funding issues. Dr. Carlson is active in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). She has been active in ACDA for many years, having served on the Illinois ACDA Board as Women’s Choir and Collegiate Repertoire & Standards chair. Currently she serves as the IL-ACDA Past-President and is ACDA Central Region President-Elect.

 

Dr. Carlson has conducted many major choral/orchestral works including Benjamin Britten’s “War Requiem” in 2013 as part of the international centenary Benjamin Britten Symposium. Carlson has conducted numerous operas and musicals, including the Illinois State University’s recent productions of “Cabaret,” and “Street Scene.” For many years Dr. Carlson sang and recorded in ensembles with Robert Shaw in France and at the Professional Training Workshops at Carnegie Hall. She has also performed a wide variety of piano and vocal solo repertoire,

but has a particular fondness for playing and conducting chamber music. Dr. Carlson frequently works with contemporary composers and is enthusiastically supportive of new choral compositions.

 

Carlson is an active choral adjudicator and honor choir conductor. Her choirs have been featured at state and regional festivals and have toured nationally and internationally. The Illinois State University Concert Choir, and the Madrigal Singers have enjoyed collaborating with professional local and regional symphony orchestras. Under her direction her choirs have toured internationally to Italy, Spain, England and France, and performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

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In her spare time, Dr. Carlson enjoys cooking, videography, gardening, and being walked by her two rescue dogs, KoKo, and Kiefer!