Biography
In 2008 Karen Gibbard graduated with distinction from the MMus Oboe Performance Orchestral Training course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, generously supported by the HR Taylor Charitable Trust and the Mercers Company. Karen has since then received assistance from the HR Taylor Charitable Trust to continue private coaching with Richard Simpson, Christian Schneider and Gail Hennessy, whilst also undertaking period instrument coaching through the Jeune Orchestre Atlantique programme at the Abbaye aux Dames in France. This has included tuition with eminent historical oboists such as Katharina Spreckelsen, Michael Niesemann, Richard Earle, Marcel Ponseele and Taka Kitazato. Karen has a place on The Ann and Peter Law OAE Experience 2010 scheme, which provides her with the opportunity to participate in Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment concert projects and work alongside the orchestra with world-class conductors and soloists. She has also received scholarships to attend various residential summer schools such as the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute in Toronto, Dartington International Summer School, and the European Academy for Music and Arts organised by the Hochschule in Cologne.

Karen loves to perform in a variety of solo, chamber and orchestral settings. These have included solo oboe performances as part of the International Double Reed Society conference, Leeds International Concert Season and Dartington International Summer School, as well as various baroque oboe concertos with directors such as Peter Holman and Pavlo Beznosiuk. Later this year Karen will also be performing the Gordon Jacob Oboe Concerto no.2 with Kingston Chamber Orchestra. Karen is a keen chamber musician and through the Kariosa Ensemble for woodwind and piano she has taken part in various recitals, as well as chamber concerts and workshops at the Wigmore Hall. She is also baroque oboist in the Prince and Pauper Consort, which has participated in the BREMF Early Music Live! Scheme and has performed at events such as the Brighton Early Music Festival White Night, the National Portrait Gallery and for private functions at the London Guildhall.

Orchestral Work
Orchestras: All Soul's Orchestra, New London Consort, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Parley of Instruments, Purcell Orchestra. Education Work: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Education.

Karen's orchestral work also includes the Gabrieli Players, Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra, The Brook Street Band, Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Baroque Armonico Consort, Sinfonia Cymru, Royal Academy of Music Baroque Orchestra, Rehearsal Orchestra, Solomon Orchestra, Consort of Twelve, I Maestri, Situation Opera, Essex Baroque Orchestra, Linden Baroque and the Orchestra of the Teatro Olimpico of Vicenza in Italy. Training Orchestras: The OAE Experience Scheme 2010, Jeune Orchestre Atlantique.

This has entailed work under prominent conductors such as Sir Charles Mackerras, Paul McCreesh, Christopher Seaman, Sir Mark Elder, Andreas Spering, Jamie Rhorer, Hervriquet, David Stern, Peter Holman, Adrian Butterfield, and Steven Devine in various venues including the Barbican Hall, New York Carnegie Hall, Opera of Rouen, St John's Smith Square, and St George Hanover Square.

Education
Karen's graduate studies took place at Guildhall School of Music and Drama (MMus Oboe Performance - Distinction, 2007-08) and Leeds University (BMus Hons, First class, 2003-07).

Prizes and Awards

• H R Taylor Charitable Trust, 2007 and 2008
• Matthew Hodder Charitable Trust, 2007
• The Mercer's Company, 2007
• The Lord Snowden Prize, Leeds University (for the highest music degree result), July 2007
• Dartington International Summer School (2009 - Baroque Orchestra, 2007)
• Jackdaws, 2007
• ABRSM DipABRSM distinction in oboe performance, July 2005
• Trinity TCM David Taylor Memorial Prize, July 2002 & 2000
• Trinity TCM Cassal Prize for Woodwind, July 2001

Teachers: Richard Simpson, Gail Hennessy, Christian Schneider, Gordon Hunt, David Walter, Christine Swain, Dick Earle, Michael Niesemann and Katharina Spreckelsen.

Karen joined Morgensterns in January 2010

Karen's web profile was last updated 29th Jan 2011

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