About Karla
Classical
The versatile American soprano Karla Scott, who possesses a voice of remarkable clarity and beauty of timbre has been described by the Washington Post as "a vividly expressive soprano." Equally comfortable performing in various musical genres, Dr. Scott recently performed the soprano solo in Mozart's Vesperae Solennes de Confessore with the Maryland Summer Chorus and Orchestra under the baton of Dr. Cindy Bauchpies. She also performed the soprano solo in Verdi's Requiem with Annapolis Symphony and combined choruses of the United States Naval Academy.
In previous seasons, Karla along with collaborative pianist Dr. Alexei Ulitin premiered from Slavery to Freedom, a song cycle by American concert pianist and composer Alan Mandel at the University of Maryland, College Park. Mr. Mandel's settings of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Poems on Slavery were juxtaposed with songs by Samuel Coleridge Taylor, the Anglo-African composer best known for his choral cantata, Song of Hiawatha. Scott has performed as a soloist with the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor society based in Portland, Maine and was included in the documentary film featuring the composer's works.
She has performed Mahler's Resurrection Symphony with Annapolis Symphony at the United States Naval Academy, the Villa-Lobos Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 (transcribed for 8 basses rather than 8 celli) and a filmed masterclass with famed mezzo-soprano Fredericka (Flicka) von Stade where Ms. Scott's performance drew rave reviews from von Stade.
In earlier seasons, Dr. Scott was soprano soloist for Mozart's C Minor Mass, in Annapolis; Maher Symphony No.4 in College Park, MD; Fauré Requiem in College Park, MD; Serpina in Pergolesi's La Serva Padronna in Greenville, NC; Clorinda in Rossini's La Cenerentola in Greenville, NC; Kathleen in Vaughn-Williams' Riders to the Sea in College Park, MD; Pamina in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte in Rome, Italy. Ms. Scott sang alongside Metropolitan Opera soprano, Carmen Balthrop, a special performance of the African National Anthem for the late South African President, Nelson Mandela, and performed for the funeral services of Rosa Parks held in Washington, DC. She has appeared at the Kennedy Center, the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC and in a film about the life of African-American composer, Jester Hairston.
Academic
Ms. Scott has an earned BM in Vocal Pedagogy (the science of voice training) from East Carolina University, MM in Vocal Performance (opera concentration) from the University of Maryland. In 2016 she earned a doctorate in music (vocal pedagogy concentration) from the University of Maryland, College Park. She has served as an instructor of Music at Bennet College, adjunct faculty at the U.S. Naval Academy, as adjunct faculty at the University of Maryland, College Park. In 2018, she joined the music faculty at Eastern University in St. David, Pennsylvania. Karla's doctoral dissertation research was interdisciplinary in nature and examined the intersection of gospel music, leadership development, and American nationalism.
Worship
As a worship leader and workshop presenter, Karla has served numerous churches and national and international conferences in the United States and the Caribbean allowing her to fulfill the mandate on her life to make Jesus known through worship. She has shared ministry settings with many notable pastors, psalmists and recording artists in the body of Christ including Twinkie Clark, T.D. Jakes, Smokey Norful, Alvin Slaughter and had the opportunity to serve President Barack Obama and the first family as the worship leader during MLK worship services in 2012. In 2017, Scott launched The Power of Your Voice interactive vocal coaching series which allows her to serve and support singers in the Body of Christ all over the world.
Choral Work
Dr. Scott's choirs have appeared at the 2014 Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, DC, on a goodwill tour of South Korea in 2011, at the 2008 Inauguration concert for President Barack Obama. Her choirs have performed in Zimbabwe, Africa with then President Mugabe in attendance, and in Washington, D.C. for a United Negro College Fund celebration with former President Bill Clinton. In 2013 Karla partnered with Jazz at Lincoln Center to create a touring workshop introducing Mr. Marsalis' landmark work, Abyssinian: A Gospel Celebration to hundreds of secondary and college students in the east coast and mid-western states. A tireless advocate for fostering connections between young people and the arts, Karla is an in-demand workshop and masterclass clinician. In 2018, she served as guest clinician in Cullera, Spain for a week-long choral festival sponsored by Fede Gospel.
Author
In 2017 Scott released her first book Steady Faith: Navigate the Detours, Live your Purpose, Make a Difference. The book supports leaders, influencers, and creatives in the healthy examination of the state of their souls as they continue to lead others.
Entrepreneur
Dr. Scott is the Founder and CEO of The Vocal Spa, a music training company which provides classes, workshops, books, group and private training for singers. Her podcast, CreativeTalk features interviews with creative women of color. Her publishing company, Iddo Publishing is the imprint responsible for her recording projects and literary publications.
