Carl F. Kohrt Distinguished Alumni Award: Karen Parks ’83

Furman University presented a number of major awards at its annual Bell Tower Ball Saturday, Feb. 11.

The event, which took place at the Greenville Convention Center, celebrated the accomplishments of members of the Furman community. Several alumni, a community partner and friends of the university were honored for their professional achievements and for their generosity, service and leadership to the university and community.

Carl F. Kohrt Distinguished Alumni Award
Karen Parks ’83

Presented in recognition of significant professional or personal accomplishments and in gratitude for continued loyalty to Furman University. 

Karen Parks is a Fulbright Scholar, Olivier Award nominee, and Billboard chart-topper. She served as master teacher, classical panelist, and vocal consultant for YoungArts (Presidential Scholars) and co-directed the Salute to the Presidential Scholars in the Arts performance at the Kennedy Center. Parks has performed in twelve languages and fourteen countries at major concert halls, cathedrals, basilicas, and opera houses, worldwide. Her career highlights include performances at Carnegie Recital Hall, Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, London’s Old Vic Theatre, the REDCAT Theatre in Los Angeles, the renowned APOLLO Theatre in New York City, and with the San Francisco Opera, Savonlinna Opera, London, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Budapest, and Göteborg Symphonies, UNICEF’s World Symphony, and the Boston Pops.

As a Fulbright scholar, Parks received a double award for exclusive study with the maestro at La Scala Opera in Milan, Italy, and was nominated for an Olivier Award for her performances of Cindy Lou in Carmen Jones at London’s Old Vic Theatre. Her numerous solo and collaborative recordings include: Nobody Knows: Songs by Harry T. Burleigh, which debuted at #2 on the Billboard Charts (classical); Nocturne, the first English language album of Finnish classical poetry; the world premiere of Perfect Harmony (recorded, televised, and aired internationally); Song of America, a compilation album of songs by renowned artists related to the history of America; and Rosa Parks: Pure Love, an oratorio concerned with the ideas of freedom, liberty, and justice, by progressive composer Wadada Leo Smith. She performed a concert commissioned by Dame Janet Baker at Barbican Hall, toured as Micaela in Carmen with the San Francisco Opera’s touring company, and sang the role of Nedda in Pagliacci for three seasons at the Savonlinna Opera Festival.

Karen’s voice clients and students have performed at major opera houses and concert halls, nationally and internationally, including Carnegie Hall, Ford’s Theatre, and the Kennedy Center. They also perform leading roles on Broadway and National tours in Beauty and the Beast, Hadestown, WICKED, The Book of Mormon, FROZEN, Phantom of the Opera, Newsies, The Lion King, West Side Story, as well as on numerous film and TV shows. For their university productions, many of Karen’s voice/acting students are featured in leading roles where approximately 98% of her voice clients have been accepted to major universities on full scholarship, including Julliard, Manhattan School of Music, NYU, Carnegie Mellon, AMDA, Oberlin Conservatory, Berklee School of Music, Mannes, University of Michigan, Indiana University, and The New School.

Parks received her undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate degrees at Furman University, the University of Texas at Austin and the University of California at Santa Barbara in Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy. She also specializes in Musical Theatre and the African American Spiritual and Art Song.

Karen is a member of numerous organizations, including the National Opera Association, NATS, and Actor’s Equity. She joined the faculty of NYU/Tisch School of Dramatic Arts, New Studio on Broadway, where she helped to establish the now thriving program. Karen is currently Associate Professor in Vocal Arts and Opera at the University of Southern California. Parks is also founder, CEO and Director of Stagebound, Inc.

Click here to watch the Bell Tower Ball video honoring Karen Parks.