Biography / Concerts

Biography

The music of composer and solo pianist Karen Marie Garrett has been described as minimalist, ambient, classical, contemporary, and deeply touching: the welcome sound of stillness in a hectic world.

Week after week, her hauntingly beautiful and evocative music has kept her among the top-selling and most requested recording artists in the United States.

Her early blooming 2007 hit, It’s About the Rose has been a No. 1 chart topping album with radio stations across the country holding the number one slot for three consecutive months. It was instantly selected as one of the Top Twelve Adult Contemporary Recordings of the Year. Industry kudos aside, the true success of this album lies in the people it has touched around the world.

The prominent track from It’s About the Rose is “Tally’s Lullaby” which has inspired a varied number of special projects. Following the somber Virginia Tech tragedy, Garrett collaborated with Winter Robinson, (author consultant, therapist, and intuitive) of Maine in a spoken word meditation using “Tally’s Lullaby” as the musical foundation for solace and healing. New York State’s internationally acclaimed author, T M Wright was so inspired by the lullaby’s beautiful melody; he wrote an equally poignant response in prose. “On Hearing Tally’s Lullaby” appears in his latest book Bone Soup (Cemetery Dance) launching early next year.

Most recently, “Tally’s Lullaby” has been used as the musical platform for a non-commercial video produced in Nashville to raise funds for cancer research, in conjunction with the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign.

Ms. Garrett is a friend to the Espy Foundation created in honor of author, Willard R. Espy (1910-1999), who was an active member of the literary arts community in New York City. Since 2000, Ms. Garrett has donated several concerts to benefit the ongoing mission of the Espy Foundation which advances and encourages literary and visual arts through programs in which writers, artists, and students pursue new ideas and create new work.

A native of Washington State, Karen Marie Garrett began her music study at age five and later trained under the guidance of Carolyn O. James of Sherwood Conservatory of Music. Her music began to assume its own unmistakable voice as she absorbed elements derived from popular music. She subsequently became involved in collaborating with platinum record producer, Will Ackerman, founder of Windham Hill Records. Allure of Sanctuary was recorded at George Lucas’ Skywalker Sound Studios, released September 2005. Top-selling cuts from this release include, “Tip Toe Dancer”, “Lake Ewok Muse”, “Allure of Sanctuary”, and “Welcome B.”

Karen is scheduled to return to Skywalker Sound Studios Spring 2008 to begin recording another new project.

Concerts

Pianist and composer Karen Marie Garrett is available for public and private concerts.

She also enjoys fund raising events and non-traditional venues such as “Living Room Concerts” and “Dinner and a Concert” – personal performances with “meet & greet” for you and your guests. If a piano is not at the desired location, Karen’s staff will arrange to have a rental brought in for your event.

Please contact me for more information.

Testimonials...

“The moment you began playing the piano I laid my head on my husband's shoulder, closed my eyes and just let go. I felt transported to a place of beauty and calm.”

“A wonderful concert ... it was magical!”

“Listeners were captivated by the mesmerizing effect of your music and exceptional skill... I did not know it was possible to achieve such subtlety..... Absolutely gorgeous...”

“It was wonderful! fabulous music... a lovely evening all around.... can't wait for your next event!”

“It was truly a Karen Marie Garrett evening. After listening to your cds so much it was almost surreal to see you actually play those songs that were so familiar. We never tire of your music and would love to hear you again in concert!”

"... elegant, we loved the event! ... the music was absolutely gorgeous.”

“Karen Marie Garrett owns the room! What a gift! The audience was mesmerized by her performance; you could literally hear a pin drop when the music softened. She becomes one with the piano, and we laughed, cried, and loved with them. Amazing to see Ms. Garrett in concert!”