An active performer, Karen Hill is currently the Principal Clarinetist of
the Spartanburg Philharmonic, Principal Second Clarinetist of the
Asheville Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Arbor Wind Trio.
She has appeared as a soloist with the Spartanburg Philharmonic,
Brevard Chamber Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic, Music Academy
of the West Festival Orchestra, Hunan Symphony Orchestra, Yellow
River Symphony Orchestra, the Converse Symphony Orchestra, and
collaborated with the American Chamber Players. She has also
served as Principal Clarinetist with the Hendersonville Symphony, the
Brevard Chamber Orchestra, and the French Broad River Woodwind
Quintet. A freelance musician in the area for over 20 years, Mrs. Hill
also has performed with the Asheville Lyric Opera Company, Augusta
Symphony Orchestra, Augusta Opera Company, Charleston
Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, Greenville Symphony, North
Carolina Symphony and the South Carolina Philharmonic. Mrs. Hill
has traveled to China multiple times as a performer and teacher in
cities such as Hangzhou, Wenzhou, Zhengzhou, Changsha and
Qingdao.
A high school graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy, Mrs. Hill
holds degrees in clarinet performance from Northwestern University
and the University of Michigan, where she was a full-tuition Fellow.
She is a former student of the world-renowned clarinetist Robert
Marcellus.
A summer music enthusiast throughout high school and college,
Karen spent her summers at music festivals such as the Banff Center,
Brevard Music Center, Interlochen, Music Academy of the West, and
the School of Orchestral Studies, a summer affiliate of the
Philadelphia Orchestra. She has also performed at Piccolo Spoleto,
the Cullowhee Music Festival, and at Wild Acres, as a Woodwind
Quintet Artist-in-Residence. She currently spends her summers at the
MasterWorks Festival.
