Karen H. Crandon

Karen H. Crandon, Soprano, is a Board-Certified Music Therapist and Private Voice/Piano/Guitar/Music Theory Teacher. Karen has sung with several professional-level choirs in the area including VOX-The Rob Seible Chamber Singers, Houston Cecilia Chamber Choir, Texas Masterworks Choir, Houston Chorale Society Chamber Choir and The Archdiocesan Choir of Galveston-Houston, and has done a lot of solo work with different organizations around Houston. She sang Opera in Rochester, New York for four years, has performed in numerous musicals, sings in 8 languages and play 14 instruments.

Karen is also a Contemporary Christian Songwriter and her debut album, “You are My God” will be released soon on digital media.

Karen has a private studio in her Cypress home and has taught at Montgomery HS, Tomball HS and for the last ten years, at Magnolia HS. During that time she has had 9 All State Choir Members, and has taken multiple students to various singing competitions. She is a NATS- Certified Teacher and UIL judge. During lessons, she stresses the importance of healthy singing;  proper alignment, breath support, vocal technique and music theory will be addressed. Karen teaches both Classical Music and Musical Theater and discusses the different approaches to each, for the most successful outcome.

With the current COVID-19 pandemic, strict sanitation protocols are implemented into lessons including, but not limited to, masks, hand sanitizing, disinfecting room between students, and proper social distancing. Experimenting with see-through masks and masks designed especially for singers are also a possibility. Everyone’s continued good health is a top priority, in addition to beautiful singing.

Looking forward to another wonderful year of making beautiful music together!

Formerly from Minnesota, I am a classically trained singer with a Bachelor's degree from Bemidji State University and Masters degree from West Texas A&M University, both degrees in vocal music performance.  

I have participated in many singing groups in college, graduate school, and post baccalaureate. I have been teaching for 3 yrs and have studied voice for over 10 years.  

I have performed across the country and internationally with choral groups and as a solo artist.  I am familiar with multiple genres of music including renaissance/early music, popular music, musical theatre, and opera.  

I am open and available for zoom lessons if anyone is more comfortable with that avenue. 

Mike Ware taught elementary, middle school and high school choir during his 30 years in public school teaching. In addition to teaching choral music in public schools, he also taught private voice.  After retirement, he founded UIL Region 26 serving as the Executive Secretary until 2007. Beginning in 2008, he served as Managing Director of the Music Educators Resource Network as a volunteer with the Foundation for Music Education and helped pilot the TMEA Mentor Program.  

In 2014, he became an adjunct faculty member of the Sam Houston State University Music Department and Conductor of the SHSU Concert Choir and Women’s Choir. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in conducting degree from Sam Houston State University. Choirs under his direction have been invited to perform for the Texas Music Educators Association, Southwestern ACDA in Dallas and National ACDA in Chicago. 

He was recognized by UIL as an outstanding educator with the Denius award in 2003 and by TCDA wit the Texas Choral Directors Choral Excellence award in 2012. He has conducted performances in Constitution Hall, Kennedy Center, and Carnegie Hall. He has served as a clinician, adjudicator and in service presenter for public schools and regions across the state. In addition, he has presented clinic sessions at TCDA and TMEA. He has a series of renaissance editions that are published by Carl Fischer Music. Mr. Ware is a Past TMEA President (2005) and  Past TMEA State Vocal Chair.