Karen Burgman’s new CD of piano improvisations, "Love’s Pure Light," is exquisite, reverential and prayerful. It’s also joyous, especially in her interpretation of “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” Most of the 17 selections are Christmas classics, brought to new life through Karen’s playing. Three of the songs, “Mary, Did You Know?”, “One Small Child” and “Emmanuel” were new to me.
I knew the first time I heard her first CD, “The Impulse of His Love,” that she was playing from her soul. Then I was fortunate to meet her this fall through her work on the new musical “Amazing Grace: The True Story.” She’s just as much a blessing in person, with an incredible story of faith and persistence behind her recordings. When her hands were crippled by tendinitis she was told she would never be able to play the piano again. But with her openness to God’s grace, she found a way to again praise Him with her music. Her playing couldn’t be more beautiful! Check out my interview with her in the Sept. 5 posting.
Karen's career as a pianist has taken her all over the world. Her sensitivity as a musician has won her numerous awards in accompanying and chamber music, and she has played in venues including Carnegie Hall and Jordan Hall, MA, where she performed a work commissioned in her honor. She has been recognized for her innovative work in the area of music therapy to autistic children, and as an arranger/composer she continues to explore new projects. She graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory in 2005 with a Bachelor of Music Degree in piano performance and now maintains a private teaching studio, serves as artistic director and conductor of the Sola Gratia Musicians Choirs, and manages the Cantabile Concert Series at Hilltown Baptist Church. She and her, husband, Michael, live in North Wales, PA.
To order this beautiful CD, visit www.paracletepress.com. To book Karen, visit www.karenburgman.com and for publishing information, visit www.lifespringmusic.com.
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