Karen Coker Merritt
A native of North Carolina, Karen Coker Merritt received her Master of Music degree from the University of NC at Greensboro, and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance at Florida State University. She began her professional operatic career with Pittsburgh Opera, studying as an apprentice with opera legends such as Renata Scotto, Régine Crespin, and Renée Fleming. She made her professional operatic debut with Baltimore Opera in 2003. International engagements have included a tour of England with Opera North of the UK’s production of Kurt Weill’s One Touch of Venus, starring as Venus. She reprised this role at the Ravenna Festival in Italy, and at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London. She has performed in numerous oratorio, recital and concert engagements throughout New York City, and starred as Rosalinda in Opera New York’s Off-Broadway production of Tales from the Manhattan Woods. Her recent performances include the roles of Tatiana in Eugene Onegin, and Love Simpson in Carlisle Floyd’s Cold Sassy Tree, coached by the composer himself. Dr. Merritt currently serves as Assistant Professor of Voice at Stetson University, where she joined the faculty in 2016.