Soprano Karina Brazas, described as “sumptuous and soaring” (Omaha World-Herald), has built a career on repertoire ranging from the Baroque to the 21st century. Her teaching experience includes twelve years of private studio in the Omaha area, as well as experience as a guest clinician at festivals, competitions and universities. Her students have frequently been awarded best soloist and performer, participated in All-State Choir, received superior ratings at district music competitions, and been accepted to study music at institutions such as Oklahoma City University, University of Kansas, Columbia College in Chicago, Indiana University, Nebraska Wesleyan, the University of Nebraska Lincoln, and others.

Upcoming performances in 2023-24 will include a performance of operatic scenes of Mozart and Verdi with Orchestra Omaha in November, a guest recital and masterclass with Hastings College, and a performance of Bachianias Brasileiras No. 5 at the Omaha Conservatory of Music in late February. During the 2022-2023, Karina joined Opera Omaha for X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X as the Reporter/Social Worker, made her role debut as the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors in a unique collaboration with Résonance Ensemble and Trinity Cathedral, and returned to Opera Omaha in the spring for Le nozze di Figaro. In addition to her operatic schedule, Karina performed an evening of French song with the Salt Creek Song Festival, and performed as Papagena with the Omaha Symphony in their 2023 Gala honoring Jun and Ree Kaneko.

Previous seasons saw Karina make her role debut as Young Alyce in Glory Denied by Tom Cipullo in Saint Louis with Union Avenue Opera, as soprano soloist in Mozart’s C Minor Mass with the Résonance Ensemble and Creighton University, and a return to the Omaha Symphony as the soprano soloist in Stravinsky’s Pulcinella.

Some of her past stage highlights include Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Pamina in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and Maya in the Three Way, all with Shreveport Opera, as well as Yum-Yum in The Mikado and Zerlina in Don Giovanni with Union Avenue Opera in Saint Louis. Her professional debut was Kitty Hart in Dead Man Walking with Central City Opera in Colorado, where she also sang as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, and joined the cast of The Sound of Music. Other performances include Gretel in Hansel and Gretel with Opera Omaha, and Enitharmon in Opera Omaha’s world premiere of Stranger from Paradise, where the Omaha World-Herald wrote that she “dazzled, singing in the evening’s first aria in her portrayal of Blake’s fantastical demigoddess Enitharmon.”

Karina has been a regional finalist and multiple award winner from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, as well as winning the Katherine S. Tyrrell Memorial Award from the 2018 Shreveport Singer of the Year Competition. While still pursuing her education, Karina was a first place NATS winner both regionally and at the state level.

Karina spent the first twelve years of her life as a U.S. Army Brat, before her family settled in Olympia, Washington. She currently lives in Omaha with her husband and children. In her spare time, she enjoys running, reading, traveling, and baking/eating cheesecake.

What to expect in lessons with Karina:

• A positive and supportive method that connects vocal technique with artistry
• An environment where students are encouraged to find their own individual voice
• An understanding of how vocal anatomy impacts your singing
• Space to find the JOY in singing, through age appropriate repertoire and exercises from age 6-99!