In the WORDS of OTHERS…

 

* "The performance of “Rhapsody in Blue” emphasized all the “quasi” jazz nuance Gershwin could have hoped for in this concert setting (with an assist in the orchestration by composer Ferde Grofé). Of special note were the “extra” artists employed to fully realize the work: Anthony Pikard, Audrey Jackson, Nick DiScala saxophonists and the entire brass section, who really were brilliant and totally absorbed in this work. The now famous clarinet “smear” that opened the work was done to perfection by Karen Sremac, who performed it as if it were the reincarnation of the original performance. Again note-worthy were the rich, lush brass textures." (Joe Sekon, D.M.A., October 12, 2015)

 

* "Karen is a wonderfully gifted and encouraging teacher.  She combines an obvious love of music with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with her students.  She helps students experience a real sense of accomplishment and to have fun while doing so.  Karen goes beyond providing individual lessons, running chamber music groups for her students.  From participating in these, I have learned a huge amount about playing effectively in groups – lessons that I have been able to apply to playing in other chamber groups, orchestra and band.  It is a delight to have Karen as a teacher.  Her love of clarinet and of teaching shines through in every lesson, and she has a rare gift for both.  Lessons are fun and, even after many years of study, I come away from each and every session feeling I have learned something new and worthwhile."  (Rick J., Student)

 

* "Dear Karen, It has been a great expereince for me to learn clarinet and music theory from you.  Your teaching was absolutely perfect and I could benefit a lot from it…I will always remember and follow your lessons so I could someday be a skillful player like you."  (Hyong Kim, Student)

 

* "Thank you so much, by the way, for taking on ___ as a student!  You right away addressed the issues I was concerned about.  Her dad and I have already noticed an improvement in her playing and more self-motivation in her practicing. Hooray!"  (Helen G., Student’s parent)

 

* "Sitting next to Karen is a master class in phrasing."  (Jeff G., Clarinetist)

 

* "Karen is a superbly accomplished performer, combining musical sensitivity with truly first class technical mastery of the clarinet.  Whether in an intimate chamber setting, or filling a concert hall as an orchestral soloist, the beauty of her playing is a delight to experience."  (Student)

 

* "…performing the haunting smooth wind solos woven throughout the Sinfonia, Sremac in particular was quite striking in her performance, playing with obvious feeling and depth, the notes of her clarinet rising above the orchestra, then melting back into the body of work almost imperceptibly." (Santa Cruz Sentinel)

 

* "…Clarinetist Karen Sremac a most successful graduate of the Eastman School of Music (USA) was impressive in her warm, all but immaculate tone and her extremely sensitive feeling for sound.  These qualities are particularly invaluable in this composition, (Brahms Quintet), for the clarinet here is not only dominant melodically, but also has accompaniment tasks to fulfill."  (Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung)

 

* "…Clarinetist Karen Sremac played the many cantilena passages (in the Brahms Quintet) in a most tenderly articulated and poetically illuminated faxhion.  She followed the arabesques of her part in truly soloistic faxhion…"  (Die Rheinpfalz)

 

* "Karen Sremac’s richly voiced clarinet lines…were among the movement’s most treasured finds…"  (Metro Santa Cruz)

 

* "Dear Karen, It occurred to me during your lovely Pathetique solos last weekend—which brought tears to my eyes—that I have never had a chance to tell you how much pleasure your playing has given me.  I’m glad to have chosen our chair to sponsor some time ago, and hope to be able to continue to do so in future years."  (sponsor of Karen’s chair in Santa Cruz  Symphony)

 

* "Karen is the best teacher ever! When I switched to alto saxophone and struggled in band class, I started taking lessons with her. She covered everything from embouchure to rhythm to posture! I got much more confident in band class and got A’s on all my playing tests! And taking a lesson with Karen was always tons of fun… she would make up acronyms to remember things, like "WFTDB", or "Wait For The Down Beat"! Karen has a fun, creative, and very effective teaching method that will help any student, from beginning players to even the most advanced. Sorry it’s kind of long; it was hard to write just one good thing about your teaching when there’s so many great things to say!"  (Jesse C., Student)

 

* "Karen Sremac’s clarinet beautifully delineated a lyrical theme over the violin’s fluttering opening lines in the "Vivace non troppo" movement."  (Phyllis Rosenblum, Santa Cruz Sentinal, April 1, 2010)