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Composers BureauKaren CunninghamBiography When the state of New Mexico celebrated its Quincentennial in 1992,
Karen submitted a grant proposal, Visions of New Mexico,
a multimedia production performed by the Albuquerque Children's
Choir, featuring highlights of New Mexico history. The production
included collaboration with five composers, a choreographer, and
artist. The Choir toured Albuquerque Public Schools. Karen, one
of the five composers, wrote original music and a song focusing
on the Santa Fe Trail portion of New Mexico history. On October 4, 1992, Karen participated with the New Mexico Women
Composers' Guild in an international music festival, produced by
the New Music Alliance, New Music Across America, Albuquerque.
Karen premiered her electronic work, Somewhat Symmetrical
for a simultaneous live performance and national radio broadcast. In 1994, two of her student piano duets Martians N' Mars
and Mother Earth Lullaby were published by Voice
Of The Rockies (BMI). Karen was acting President and Concert Coordinator for the New
Mexico Women Composers' Guild until 1998. In 1997, Karen and eight collaborating artists were part of Sensual
Mythology, an interactive adventure and sensory exploration
of mythic proportions. The installation was held at the South Broadway
Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The work included various
sculptures, paintings, video, mixed media, dance and music. Karen
and her husband Paul Beck, created two large interactive sculptures
for Sensual Mythology, a Greek Lyre approx. eight feet tall
and Panpipes approx. 2 ½ feet by 3 ½ feet. Each sculpture
had a hidden electronic keyboard within it. Each tone was attached
to an infrared detector. When the infrared light was blocked from
the detector by walking through the Lyre or waving your hand over
the holes of the Panpipes, an electronic sound representing the
instrument was then heard. Karen also produced a recording of electronic
music depicting each of the Sensual Mythology artists, which was
heard in a video, and more music was recorded for the dancer, also
on video. Since 1994, Karen has been the chairperson for Composers Day,
sponsored by the Albuquerque Music Teacher Association. The one-day
event places student composers with adult composers in learning
and discovering about music composition. Karen teaches private piano to thirty students. Her teaching philosophy
includes motivating her students to actively participate in other
arts, side by side with their piano education. Nationally Certified,
she is a member of the Albuquerque Music Teachers Association, the
Federation of Music Clubs, and has recently received her Professional
Masters Certificate. Students from her studio have won composition
awards. The Professional Music Teachers of New Mexico contracted
Karen as the 1999-Commissioned Composer. All Aboard, for
piano, synthesizer and multimedia, premiered at the state convention,
November 12, 1999, in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The work was then
sent on to the national competition, The Shepherd Distinguished
Composer Award, sponsored by the Music Teachers National Association.
Contact Information3008 Camino De La Sierra NE Further Information
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Last updated
9/16/03 |
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