2008 Adult Composer Critique
Virginia Kendrick Scholarship Winner
Karen Erickson

Karen Erickson

Congratulations to Karen Erickson, new winner of the Adult Composer Critique Event, and the Virginia Kendrick Scholarship. Karen, a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College with a major in French and minor in music, received her Ph.D. in French from Yale University in 1987. She teaches French at St. John's University, where she took composition classes on the side from Dr. Brian Campbell. His teaching was a true inspiration to Karen, and she has continued to compose and work in music.

Her current French language projects include the use of French folk songs in the language and culture classroom, and she directs and sings in the Collegeville Consort, an early sacred music vocal ensemble; their CDs include A Mother's Tale: Marian Chants and Motets (2001) and Dwelling Places (2005). Her "Five Shakespeare Songs" premiered on October 26, 2001, at the Steven B. Humphrey Auditorium, St. John's University. She also serves as liturgical musician for special services at several area churches.

Karen's two children are active in music. Daniel Erickson, 16, sings in the choir and has passed his Level 9 MMTA theory exam and plays violin. Her daughter Leah Webster, 14, sings and finds Karen's extracurricular creative endeavors to be an inspiration for her own hopes and dreams.

Do you love to compose? Have you been curious about the quality of your pieces? Would you like suggestions on making things work? If you’ve answered “yes,” please enter your composition in the Adult Composer Critique Event. You may be our next Virginia Kendrick Scholarship winner! Forms are available online (click here), from your club president or from BOlsonflute@cs.com. You need not be an MFMC member to enter.

This page was updated on July 21, 2008