Described as “radiant” and “expressive” (The New York Times) and “nothing less than gorgeous” (Memphis Commercial Appeal), cellist Karen Ouzounian approaches music-making with a deeply communicative and passionate spirit. Winner of the S&R Foundation’s 2016 Washington Award and at home in diverse musical settings, she is especially drawn towards unusual collaborations and eclectic contemporary repertoire.
At the heart of Karen’s artistic practice is her love of the collaborative process and the development of adventurous new works. Current and recent projects include collaborations with visual artist Kevork Mourad, theater director Joanna Settle, and instrumentalist-composers Kinan Azmeh, Haruka Fujii and Kayhan Kalhor, whose Blue as the Turquoise Night of Neyshabur for solo kemancheh, cello, tabla and orchestra Karen performed and recorded with Kalhor, Sandeep Das, and conductor Eric Jacobsen. Other upcoming premieres include a new cello concerto by composer Lembit Beecher with the Orlando Philharmonic, a new work by Anna Clyne for solo cello and string quintet with The Knights, and a series of new pieces for Karen to perform as a cellist and vocalist.
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