Karen Walwyn, concert pianist, performs with the Colorado Springs Chamber Orchestra in the spring of 2019. This is a historic concert as this is the first concert for the chamber orchestra to feature an African American female concert pianist, and it is the first orchestral concert to perform a concerto by an African American female composer. Florence Price is the first noted African American female composer to gain national status as a composer. The Florence Price Concerto in One Movement at Ent Center for the Arts, Colorado Springs, CO is seen in performance via this video
Karen Walwyn performs at the Black Lives Matter Conference at Harvard University in 2017. Her composition entitled A Journey from Afar, from her suite “Mother Emanuel” depicts the events of the tragedy that led to nine lives lost at The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on June 17, 2015.
Composer Karen Walwyn’s Spangled Hearts for Viola and Cello is performed on 11/17/20 Network for New Music: Extraordinary Measures. This work was commissioned for the 16th anniversary of 9/11 and asks the question “Are We Still Listening?” in her composition. For viewing of the concert, please advance to 12.23 to see Ms. Walwyn immediately followed by the performance:
To view her full interview please visit: https://www.networkfornewmusic.org/events.
Ms. Walwyn premiers her debut composition, Reflections on 9/11 at the Kennedy Center. Her work is for solo piano in seven movements depicting the American tragedy and the days following this historic time. Her recording of this work is on Albany Records. For viewing, please visit this link
Ms. Walwyn, first African American concert pianist/composer to win the Steinway Artist Award, is a featured composer guest artist in interview with Ms. Jeanette Guinn with Arts Daily on the subject of composition and the driving force behind her compositions:
Angels Nine was written to honor the fallen nine angels due to the tragedy of The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Commissioned by Debra Sherill-Ward, this was written for three Horns and Piano. Ms. Ward resides in Charleston, South Carolina and is a prolific performer and teacher in Charleston.The performers include hornists Debra Sherill-Ward, Mary Beth Orr and Jennifer Kummer and Pianist Laura Ball.