Celebrate Women’s History Month!

A native of Iowa, Karen Knowlton moved to Parkshore in 2020 after spending

over 50 years in Cleveland, Ohio where she raised her family and developed her career in music.   She holds a bachelor degree in music from Drake University and advanced degrees from Kent State University.  During her years in Cleveland, she taught everything from elementary school through college level classes, and also presented concert previews for the Music Study Groups of The Cleveland Orchestra.  She also developed a career in music administration, managing several small organizations, and then culminating her career as Executive Director of the Cleveland International Piano Competition, for 22 years.   During her time at the Competition she met and worked with pianists from all over the world.

Upon moving to Parkshore in 2020, she soon found other musicians and began organizing live programs with musical Parkshore residents.    These programs have grown and an upcoming program will include piano duets, solo clarinet, solo cello, and vocalists with Karen and others at the piano.  Several concerts by members of the musical community in the greater Twin Cities area have also taken place.

Karen has been giving lectures about classical music to an appreciative audience of Parkshore residents.   These events include performing important themes on the piano, and viewing the performance on youtube.  Recent topics have included Beethoven Symphony No. 7, Sibelius Symphony No. 5, Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, among others.

Karen states “it has been a great pleasure to discover the great love of music among our residents, and a great privilege to share our appreciation together”