Biography
Kari Burgess is an expressive lyric soprano from Portland, OR. Recently performed roles include Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Opera Bend, Sandra in the 2018 premiere of Tango of the White Gardenia with Cascadia Concert Opera, and The Water in The Little Prince with Opera Theater Oregon. This summer she performed the role of Foreign Princess in Rusalka with Luke Housner's LAH-SOW program and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte with The Muses Project. This upcoming season, she is ecstatic to be joining the Portland Opera as a soprano chorus member in Madame Butterfly and Pagliacci.
Last year she was featured as an Apprentice Artist with the Astoria Music Festival to perform the role of Countess Almaviva in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, she debuted the role of Mimì in Puccini’s La bohème with Opera Bend, and Micaëla in Carmen with the Central Oregon Symphony. Other roles with Opera Bend include Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus and Pamina from Die Zauberflöte.
Ms. Burgess has performed in Europe as a participant in The American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, and OperaViva! in Verona, Italy. In 2014 she received an encouragement award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions from the Seattle district and was also finalist in Burbank’s Hennings-Fischer Young Artist competition. She received first place in the Schubertiade Lieder competition in Pasadena and was one of the winners of California State University Northridge’s concerto aria competition. She has previously won first place in the NATS Northwest Regional Classical XIII Divisions and has been a semi-finalist for the last three years. She has been a recipient of many academic honors and scholarships from California State University Northridge where she completed her Masters of Music degree in Vocal Performance. She received her Bachelor’s of Music, also in Vocal Performance, from the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance where she performed the roles of Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro with the Eugene Opera’s Young Artist Mentor Program and Königen der Nacht in Die Zauberflöte for the University’s fall opera.
Within the realm of oratorio, she has performed Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s The Creation, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah.
Apart from performing vocally, Kari found her first love of music on the piano and began playing in 1999. She currently teaches private piano and voice in Portland, OR while pursuing her performing career. She attributes her early love of music to the guidance of her supportive family and early music mentors. Currently, she studies under the tutelage of Ruth Dobson.
Last year she was featured as an Apprentice Artist with the Astoria Music Festival to perform the role of Countess Almaviva in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, she debuted the role of Mimì in Puccini’s La bohème with Opera Bend, and Micaëla in Carmen with the Central Oregon Symphony. Other roles with Opera Bend include Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus and Pamina from Die Zauberflöte.
Ms. Burgess has performed in Europe as a participant in The American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, and OperaViva! in Verona, Italy. In 2014 she received an encouragement award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions from the Seattle district and was also finalist in Burbank’s Hennings-Fischer Young Artist competition. She received first place in the Schubertiade Lieder competition in Pasadena and was one of the winners of California State University Northridge’s concerto aria competition. She has previously won first place in the NATS Northwest Regional Classical XIII Divisions and has been a semi-finalist for the last three years. She has been a recipient of many academic honors and scholarships from California State University Northridge where she completed her Masters of Music degree in Vocal Performance. She received her Bachelor’s of Music, also in Vocal Performance, from the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance where she performed the roles of Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro with the Eugene Opera’s Young Artist Mentor Program and Königen der Nacht in Die Zauberflöte for the University’s fall opera.
Within the realm of oratorio, she has performed Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s The Creation, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah.
Apart from performing vocally, Kari found her first love of music on the piano and began playing in 1999. She currently teaches private piano and voice in Portland, OR while pursuing her performing career. She attributes her early love of music to the guidance of her supportive family and early music mentors. Currently, she studies under the tutelage of Ruth Dobson.