Dutch pianist Elizabeth Karelse has been praised by the press for her rich variety in sound and for her beautiful full tone. As a prizewinner of multiple competitions in The Netherlands and the US, Karelse has given concerts at all major concert halls of The Netherlands, as well as performances in the USA, Great Britain, Austria, Italy, Finland, and Japan. In 2010, after she gave a series of sold-out solo recitals in Japan, the Sanyo Shinbun newspaper wrote: ‘Her exciting performance was often passionately melancholic and at other times cheerfully uplifting. Her strong melodic lines deeply moved the hearts of the more than 800 audience members.’
Dr.Karelse holds degrees from the Royal Conservatoire of The Netherlands in The Hague (BA + teaching license), the Hamline International Piano Institute at Hamline University in Saint Paul, MN (MALS), and the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN (DMA in piano performance with a secondary area in pedagogy and education). After a two-year intermezzo in The Netherlands, Karelse permanently moved to Minnesota in 2012. Since then, she has significantly reduced her concert schedule to devote her time and energy to mentoring the next generation of musicians and music lovers.
Dr.Karelse has held teaching positions as Music faculty in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy at the University of Minnesota’s School of Music, Hamline University, and Inver Hills Community College. She is currently Professor of Piano at Normandale Community College and also maintains a small private studio in Edina. Karelse has taught over a 1000 students of all levels and all ages, in both class and private settings. Her students are frequently recognized at local and regional performance events and competitions, and many have successfully pursued music vocationally.
Evaluations and reviews from students and colleagues over the past 17 years have consistently highlighted Dr.Karelse’s compassionate, enthusiastic, and approachable personality. Students have commented that they find it easy to connect with Dr.Karelse, and that her engaging teaching style and interactive presentation methods can make learning about even the most dry musical concepts a fun learning experience. Dr.Karelse provides a supportive learning environment in which the student learns to find their own musical voice and to critically think for oneself. This corresponds with her own communicative qualities as a performer.
Muzio Clementi – Sonata ‘Didone abbandonata’ in g minor, op.50 no.3 Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Fragments of a live performance by Elizabeth Karelse at the Bizen Shimin Center, Okayama, Japan in June of 2010: