Artist Bio
Originally from the Minneapolis area, Kari began studying piano in 1993 and completed her Bachelor of Arts - Music degree from Concordia College in 2009. During her years at college she sang in Cantabile under June Rauschnabel and the Concordia Choir under Dr. Rene Clausen. She performed in jazz band through junior and senior high school, and currently plays in the Dakota Jazz Big Band in Fargo, ND. Kari has been accompanying choirs, soloists, and small ensembles since 1996 and currently is celebrating her 10-year anniversary as an accompanist at Sheyenne High School in West Fargo for the band, orchestra, and choir programs. She was also a featured church pianist during her secondary school years, as well as for a few post-collegiate years at a local parish in Fargo and a Lutheran church in Moorhead. Kari also has had the honor of providing piano music for both weddings and funerals alike at both indoor and outdoor venues, and has been featured as the annual Christmas Pianist for West Acres Mall beginning in 2021 and continuing through the most recent season. Kari also enjoys bringing piano music to several of the retirement communities and memory care units in multiple facilities across the Fargo area. In addition to her instrumental endeavors, Kari was a member for several years in each of the community choral organizations, singing Alto 2 in the Fargo Moorhead Choral Artists (dir. Dr. Michael Culloton) and the Master Chorale (dir. Aaron Zinter).
Plays & Improvises. (Sings a nice contralto, too....)
Kari has also pursued an active solo singer/songwriter career, performing in the Minneapolis circuit from 2006-2009 and in Fargo regularly since moving back to the area in 2012. She organized, directed, and produced an annual Carole King tribute starting in 2015 under the name “Raspberry Jam” that has featured Pat Lenertz, Jessica Vines, and other prominent local musicians. This tribute show has been revived post-pandemic and now includes a catered social hour featuring local food vendors. Her former band, The Human Element, received grants from The Arts Partnership and Jade Presents in 2017 and 2018, and she herself was an individual artist grant recipient in 2024. Other bands that Kari has performed with include: Gina Powers Band, Kari Marie Trio, Willie Waldman Project, God Johnson, and the Blue Wailers. Performing highlights as a featured artist include shows at Dempsey's/the Aquarium, the Fargo Theatre, the Red River Market, Celebration of Women in Music at the Island Park Theatre, the Woodstock Anniversary concert at Bluestem, and most recently as a primary vocalist in “Pastime Activity”, Fargo’s premiere System of a Down tribute band.
