Karen Beres

Karen Beres is Vice Provost and Dean of Academic Affairs for UNCSA. She also teaches undergraduate group piano classes and a piano pedagogy class in the School of Music, where she has the opportunity to interact with every undergraduate music student who studies at UNCSA. 

On a daily basis, students in Karen's classes work on applications of time management, goal setting, musical analysis, critical response, historical context and many other details that go into creating a well-rounded musician.

I see all levels and abilities, but one thing remains the same – our students tend to be motivated, intelligent, genuinely nice young adults whose education I love to have a hand in shaping!

Karen Beres

Credentials

  • Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM), Music Teachers National Association
  • CanAm Piano Duo (Karen Beres and Christopher Hahn)
  • Accompanist, Bel Canto Company, a professional choir based in Greensboro, N.C.
  • Former faculty positions at Bowling Green State University and the University of Oklahoma: taught group piano, piano pedagogy, led a demonstration group piano class for children, taught a private piano studio of students from ages 4-70+ and served as Coordinator of the Creative Arts Program community music school

Career Highlights

  • Played concerts in the Haydnsaal in the Esterhazy Palace, Eisenstadt, Austria, where Haydn served as court musician for much of his career, in the summers of 2011 and 2012 as a faculty member of the Classical Music Festival Piano Seminar.
  • Worked with noted composer David Maslanka on This is the World We Know—a work that her piano duo and husband commissioned, premiered and performed numerous times.
  • Invited to the Idaho State Music Teachers Conference in 2014 as a member of the CanAm Piano Duo.
  • Championing the efforts of colleagues and students in the School of Music and working with leaders across UNCSA's campus.

Awards, Recognitions and Honors

  • Outstanding Graduate Assistant Award, University of Oklahoma, 2001
  • Pi Kappa Lambda, 2002
  • UNCSA Excellence in Teaching Award, 2008
  • International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition, Silver Medal, 2008
  • IBLA Grand Prize Competition, Ragusa, Italy, Distinguished Ranking, 2009

Organizations

  • Music Teachers National Association
  • North Carolina Music Teachers Association – Piano Section Chair
  • College Music Society 

Education

DMA Piano Performance and PedagogyUniversity of Oklahoma

MM Piano PerformanceBowling Green State University

BS Music Education/PianoLebanon Valley College