RECENT CONDUCTING

Kǎrin Hendrickson is a conductor equally at home with opera and orchestra. Recent or upcoming engagements include the Belgian National Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, the Orchestre national d'Ile de France, and BBC Symphony Orchestra. Past engagements include the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Sinfônica da USP (Brazil), Sao Paulo Symphony, Manchester Camerata, London Mozart Players (UK), Kammersymphonie Graz, and multiple appearances with the Royal Northern Sinfonia (UK).

OPERA

Kǎrin was one of five conductors invited to the Dallas Opera’s Hart Institute of Conductors, and one of three conductors invited as the Atelier des Créatrices d’Opéra at the Festival Aix-en-Provence (Academie), France, where was subsequently awarded the prestigious European Network of Opera Academies Young Conductor Residency from a pool of nominated candidates across institutions including the Dutch National Opera (Netherlands), Snape Maltings (England), Helsinki Festival (Finland), and Opera Narodowa (Poland). Further opera credits include Music Director for the premiere and tour of Opera for the Unknown Woman (Melanie Wilson/Fuel Opera), Music Director for Bloomsbury Opera, Chorus Master for The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and Chorus Master for Longborough Festival Opera. Karin prepared The Gulbenkian Orchestra’s semi-staged production of Eugene Onegin for Lorenzo Viotti, and in 2023 will be Music Director for Opera Holland Park’s production of Hänsel and Gretel.

LARGER PROJECTS

Often called to assist other conductors on large projects, the list includes assisting Vladimir Jurowski and the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Proms, and assisting Marin Alsop at the Proms with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Kǎrin was also engaged as Assistant Conductor for Alsop’s first international tour as Music Director of the Sao Paulo Symphony and their debut at the BBC Proms and Snape Proms (England), the Rheingau Musik Festiva (Germany), and the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), as well as being called to assist Alsop’s performances at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. She will also be preparing Alsop’s 2023 European Tour of Too Hot to Handel: A Gospel Messiah with the BBC Concert Orchestra.

INTERNATIONAL PEDAGOGUE

Kǎrin maintains a growing international profile as an exceptional orchestra and opera pedagogue. For 2023 she will be preparing Concertgebouworkest Young for their international concerts at the Concertgebouw and in Berlin for Andrés Orozco-Estrada. She has led orchestra or opera productions for: the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; Royal Conservatoire of Music, Ghent, Belgium; the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland; multiple appearances with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain Inspire! Orchestra; the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; multiple appearances with orchestras at Chetham’s School of Music; return appearances with the London Symphony Orchestra/Guildhall School Orchestra Artistry candidates (including preparation of their side-by-side for Michael Tilson-Thomas); preparation of side-by-side players for Lorenzo Viotti and the Gulbenkian Orchestra for Mahler Symphony No. 3; preparation of young players for Gustavo Dudamel with the Barbican Centre’s collaboration between the London Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic youth orchestras; visiting conductor for the Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra and Marin Alsop on Britten’s War Requiem for the Southbank Centre at Royal Festival Hall (Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Learning and Participation); and three Guest Artist appointments to lead the orchestra at North Carolina School of the Arts in performances including Bernstein’s MASS, the complete Nutcracker Ballet, and a recorded film version of The Nutcracker ballet during COVID-19 that aired on PBS.  Maintaining her work with opera and young singers, Karin has also been Chorus Master for Longborough Festiaval Opera children’s chorus; Music Director for Garsington Youth Opera at Garsington Opera and at The Royal Opera House Out Loud Festival; and has twice led the CBSO Shenley Academy programme. She has taught masterclasses in conducting, musicianship, or orchestral training for die MUK: Musik und Kunst der Stadt Wien (Austria), The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, The Royal Philharmonic Society Women’s Conductors program, The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, The Catholic University (U.S.A.), Wellington College (U.K.), and has served on Composition Competition panels for the Royal Northern Sinfonia as well as the University of Iowa Concerto Competition. She has also led the Conducting for Composers workshops at the Southbank Centre and completed her tenure as a Lead Mentor on the international Girls Who Conduct programme.

BACKGROUND AND STUDIES

Beginning piano at age 3 in the Suzuki method, Kǎrin’s completed first studies in piano performance.  When just 15 years of age, Kǎrin submitted music for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games which was subsequently chosen to be the official Olympic Torch Relay Theme Song, and was recorded by Aretha Franklin for NBC Records. She has also premiered and accompanied multiple solo performances by up-and-coming international composers and artists.

Kǎrin began her conducting studies at George Mason University under Professor Anthony Maiello, and continued at the Peabody Conservotory under pedagogue Gustav Meier. Following studies included graduating with Distinction from the conducting program at Britain’s Royal Academy of Music under Colin Metters, where she was twice named a Gordon Foundation winner, receiving the Fred Southall Memorial Prize in her final year. Awards include talent grants from Peabody Conservatory, an award to train at the Mozarteum, Salzburg under the 2014 Siemen’s Prize winner Peter Gülke, and two awards of support from the European Network of Opera Academies; nominated for the Nestle-Salzburg Young Conductors award, and was also honored to have Marin Alsop’s mentorship through the Taki-Alsop Fellowship programme. Karin began her conducting career in the United States as Assistant Conductor to the professional choir Choralis, and also their award-winning chamber choir, Echos, while singing in both.  When she moved to the UK to train at the Royal Academy of Music, she continued singing with the London Philharmonic Choir under conductors Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Vladimir Jurowski.