Karen Schulz-Harmon is an avid chamber musician, orchestral player and teacher. She enjoys recording and collaborating with various instrumentalists in many genres of music. Karen performs with the Portland Opera, Oregon Symphony, Orchestra Next, Portland Chamber Orchestra, Eugene Symphony and the Juneau Symphony. She coaches in local schools and for the Metropolitan Youth Symphony as well as gives masterclasses in Portland and Seattle. In May 2024, Karen was the guest soloist with the Beaverton Symphony Orchestra, performing Schumann’s Cello Concerto in A minor. In August of 2025 she founded TĀCTUS​ Chamber Music Program.

Earlier in her career Karen spent several months in Europe, which included observing the teaching of Robert Nagy, former principal cellist of the Vienna Philharmonic. During this time she had the opportunity to interact with the private teachers and chamber music coaches at the Südsteirische Musiktage Festival in Austria founded by Wolfgang Klos.

 

While in Chicago, Karen performed with the Chicago Philharmonic, Chicago Bach Ensemble, Chicago Opera Theater and the Chicago Trio. Karen was a member of the faculty at the Chicago Academy for the Arts (CAA) for eight years. She also coached chamber music for ten years for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras Program.

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In the summer of 2012 Karen was selected to attend the National Summer Cello Institute. While there she had the honor to work with cellists Richard Aaron, Timothy Eddy, Ralph Kirshbaum and Uri Vardi. She also participated in an enlightening Feldenkrais workshop with Hagit Vardi.

 

Karen attended Northern Illinois University at the invitation of cellist Marc Johnson and was privileged to work with all the members of the Vermeer String Quartet. She earned a Masters of Music degree in Cello Performance in 2005. Karen performs with an 1840 Jacob Fendt cello.

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A pedagogue emphasizing both tradition and innovation, Karen works with students of all ages and levels. She considers it a great honor to pass on her knowledge of craft to those she mentors and hopes she is inspiring lifelong music makers in each one.

When she is not teaching or performing Karen enjoys spending time with her husband, double bassist Andrew Harmon, and their beautiful Haitian daughter, Estere. She also loves cooking - Karen received professional plant-based culinary certification in 2014 - as well as hiking, biking, yoga, taoist tai chi and exploring awareness through body movement classes.

"Real understanding does not come from what we learn in books; it comes from what we learn from love of nature, of music, of man. For only what is learned in that way is truly understood."

~ Pablo Casals