Karen Krummel - Cello

Karen Krummel started cello in kindergarten at the age of 4 in London.  The entire family usually runs late, so by the time she was enrolled, the only instrument left was a 1/10th size cello.  Her parents were delighted to find that it fit conveniently on top of her baby brother’s stroller.

Karen earned a B. Music degree from the University of Michigan and a M. Music from the University of Illinois, followed by a year in residency at the Banff Centre.  Her teachers included Samuel Mayes, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, and Louis Potter.  She participated in summer festivals at Aspen, Banff, Los Angeles, and Tanglewood,  where she performed and studied with legendary artists such as Leonard Bernstein, Andre Previn, Seiji Ozawa, Yo Yo Ma, Janos Starker, Lynn Harrell, Joel Krosnick, and Leon Fleischer.  Before moving to Grand Rapids, Karen was Principal Cellist in the Sinfonia da Camera of Illinois and the South Bend Symphony.

Karen has taught cello at Calvin University since 1995, leading the renowned Cello Cabaret ensemble for nearly a decade.  She was a full-time member of the Grand Rapids Symphony for 22 years before retiring in 2011 in order to spend more time with her family and continue her education.   She continues to teach and she plays in orchestras, chamber ensembles, and popular music venues around West Michigan. In addition to her musical activities, Karen now enjoys her work as an RN Case Manager for Corewell Health’s Home Based Primary Care program.