Karen Goldfeder’s compositions and arrangements have been performed by the New York Treble Singers, C4, the Marble Collegiate Church Sanctuary Choir, the Choir of St. Francis of Assisi, The Great Neck Choral Society, Kiitos: a vocal quartet, the Magpie Ensemble, The Gregg Smith Singers, and The Todd Reynolds String Quartet. Her string quartet Flight for the short film Letters Home (directed by Melissa Hacker) debuted in November 2010 at the IFC Center in NYC. Upcoming events include the premiere of two new a cappella works for the choral composers collective C4 in June of 2011, the New York Treble Singers recording of Aviatrix (commissioned by the group in 2004) for commercial release in April 2011, and the premiere of Cage for string quartet and percussion in October 2011.
Her compositions seek to reconcile the profound musical influences of an eclectic performing career. A mezzo-soprano, she has sung repertoire from Berg to Machaud to Joni Mitchell, with ensembles from Musica Sacra to The Screaming Headless Torsos in genres spanning jazz, oratorio, new music, free improvisation, early music, folk, opera, musical theatre, and R&B. She has performed and recorded with New York Virtuoso Singers, Voices of Ascension, New York Treble Singers, the Bard Festival Chorale, and the Gregg Smith Singers. Her contemporary opera credits include John Adam’s Death of Kinghoffer at Brooklyn Academy of Music and Kurt Weill’s Mahagonny Songspiell at Merkin Hall with the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra. Solo appearances include the Monteverdi Vespers of 16010, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, the Stravinsky Mass, and the Pergolesi Stabat Mater. Her jazz resume includes appearances with Jay Clayton, Julian Priester, Jeff Watts, Benny Green, Patrick Zimmerli, Frank London, Dave Fiuczynski and Abbey Lincoln and with her own band at festivals including Vancouver Jazz, Bumbershoot in Seattle and the Edinburgh Fringe.