Christina Karakos, Violist
The thing that excites me the most about music is its endless avenues for exploration. Each performance is an opportunity to represent someone’s culture—a privilege I handle with great care.
Versatile Musicianship
Excerpts from Bartók, Brahms, Stamitz, Mozart, and Strauss.
Classical
Classical music is where it all started. The first piece that got me hooked was Dvořák’s New World Symphony. I remember listening to it every day as a kid, and now I’m well-versed in the classical music canon, having studied and performed many major orchestral and chamber works. My most notable performances have been with the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Composers Orchestra, Southwest Symphony Orchestra, and 5th Wave Collective.
MNOE - “Never Twice” (feat. Lauren Deming)
Musical Theatre, Opera, & Ballet
Though I enjoy performing in all genres, theatre has always held a special place in my heart. I’ve been involved in nearly every aspect of theatre—from set design and lighting to acting on stage and, of course, playing music in the pit. In the past year, I have closed shows with Thompson Street Opera and Folks Operetta. Some shows I’ve played include Pirates of Penzance, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma!, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker with the Moscow Ballet, and Flannery Cunningham’s Groundwater.
Blues, Hip-Hop, Jazz, & Beyond
My first step into recording music professionally began with MNOE—a pop/jazz fusion group featuring the incredible Lauren Deming. After a very successful Midwestern tour and album release, I was hook on performing contemporary music and have jumped at any opportunity to record and perform with artists such as Eric Lindell, Umraan Syed, and Runaway Horse.
About the Artist
I did not choose the viola so much as it chose me. Thanks to the very professional assessment of having the longest arms in my elementary school orchestra, what began as a logical match, turned into a lifelong passion, ultimately leading me to Chicago in 2017 to earn a master's degree in viola performance from Roosevelt University.
I have studied privately with Igor Fedotov, Roger Chase, David Holland, and Renee Skerik.
In my free time, I do my best to keep numerous house plants alive and enjoy weekly hangouts with my pub trivia team. On a nice day, I can usually be found by the lake enjoying the sun, watching dogs in the park, and exploring my favorite city—Chicago.
EDUCATION
Roosevelt University, M.M. Viola Performance
Western Michigan University, B.M. Viola Performance
Connect with me!
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