Originally from southern Alberta, Karen Porkka has made
Edmonton her home for the past 30+ years as a musician, vocalist, composer, improviser, and music educator. She is the creator and co-creator of several musical projects; releasing CD’s with world music group d’Cana, the avant garde jazz group The Parkers and her own original project. Karen is the founder of the Vocal Improvisation Network of Edmonton (V.I.N.E.) and community choir the Soul Song Circle Singers. Vocal improvisation and community singing is her passion and main artistic focus. She has studied with master improvisers Bobby Mcferrin and Rhiannon and has worked internationally as a vocal improviser presenting at conferences in Portugal, Hawaii and was a guest conductor in Oakland’s Sing For Your Life yearly CircleSinging event in 2019. She also specializes in live and improvised music having collaborated with artists from other disciplines including dance, theatre, film and visual arts. |