“The high point of the afternoon was a delicate and virtually flawless rendition of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A Major, (K. 622) by clarinetist Karen Beacham. Her scales and arpeggios were like liquid gold, and the descents into the lower registers, new in Mozart’s time, totally ravishing.”
– Christopher Hyde,
The Portland Press Herald
Karen Beacham has held the position of Principal Clarinet with the Mexico City Philharmonic, Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería in Mexico City and the Tulsa Philharmonic Orchestra. She has appeared as soloist with the Tulsa Philharmonic, the Maine Chamber Ensemble, Colby Symphony Orchestra and the University of Maine at Farmington Orchestra. An active orchestral musician as well as soloist and chamber music artist, Karen has performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the internationally touring New Sousa Band, and appears regularly with the Portland Symphony Orchestra. Dedicated to education as well as performance, Karen has served on the music faculties of Colby College, University of New Hampshire and University of Maine Farmington (where she was also conductor of the concert band). In her role as conductor/music instructor at Mt. Blue Regional School, she was awarded Maine Music Educator of the Year for 2014. Karen Beacham received a Bachelor of Music from the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts where she studied with Donald Montanaro of the Philadelphia Orchestra. While there, she performed with the PCPA Orchestra as a winner of the Helen P. Neuman Solo Competition. Karen received her Master of Music Degree at the New England Conservatory of Music as a student of Harold Wright, Principal Clarinetist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.