Karri Quan, BMus

Karri Quan has been a chamber musician for over 32 years, and a violin instructor since 1995.  She is passionate about the art of teaching and performing, and helps students discover their most comprehensive musical talents through courageous, committed, confident learning.

Karri is a native Calgarian, and started playing the violin at the age of four, with Carolyn Hatch.  She quickly joined the Academy program at MRU’s Conservatory, and flourished there, enjoying the incredible variety of instruction across multiple disciplines.  She then moved to Toronto, where she completed her Bachelor of Music in Performance, and was thrilled to have the opportunity to play in various orchestral settings - symphony, chamber, opera, ballet and Broadway.  Karri also co-founded a wedding music business, which kept her trio and quartet very active throughout southern Ontario for nearly 11 years.

She has been fortunate to study with and be mentored by musicians such as Joan Barrett, Ran Shean, Lorand Fenyves, David Zafer, Josef Gingold and Shauna Rolston, and has performed with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Calgary Civic Symphony, and the Calgary Fiddlers.  As a founding member of the JEB String Quartet, Karri won the CIBC National Music Festival, and an Alberta Achievement Award.  She has been the Concertmaster for the Ambrose University Chamber Orchestra since 2016, and has previously toured New Zealand, Australia, Norway, England and Scotland.  She performs regularly with the Red Deer Symphony, as well as with her trio, Bel Canto Strings, and is an active member of Sweet Adelines International, where she is an Assistant Baritone section leader of Lions Gate Chorus (in Vancouver), and the Baritone for No Strings Quartet, both of which are internationally-ranked and award-winning a cappella ensembles.  Karri has had the distinct pleasure of playing on stage with artists such as Amy Grant, Googoosh, Diana Krall, The Tenors, David Phelps, Leahy and Cirque Musica, and she continues to enjoy her life as an active, professional musician, as there seem to be marvellous surprises around every corner!

Karri’s belief in continuing education has led her to a wide variety of related studies - handbells, Orff, Kodály, Solfège, Suzuki, piano, viola, fiddling and voice - along with extracurricular academic focuses including Modern English Literature and Canadian Studies.  While her interests may be varied, Karri’s passion for the violin, and for promoting musical and personal excellence has never wavered, and her whole-person approach to teaching now includes certification in Mental Health First Aid for Adults Who Interact With Youth.