Kara Dahl Russell

Senior Classical Music Host & Music Programmer - Kara Dahl Russell is a professional actress, contralto and musician (harpist).   From a family of musicians, in college she studied voice under the rigorous classical jury system with Jon Crain (regular co-star of world-famous Marnie Nixon), and has been a soloist in many venues.  Kara began her professional acting career during college, of which writing and music were a part. All ready a critically acclaimed actress, she trained in Washington D.C. at the prestigious and influential The Shakespeare Theatre (formerly The Folger).  NPR’s Bob Mondello hailed her as a genius in stage reviews and has compared her to both Eleanora Duse and Greta Garbo in print.  Her acting work in D.C., NYC and L.A. includes tv, film, voice-overs, and well over 40 stage productions.  It included writing, production work, and directing - her adaptation of a new work from story to stage received a rare write-in Helen Hayes Nomination,for a staging that combined dance fantasies in a serious drama.  Kara took up the harp as an adult, studying with Dr. Alison Bjorkedal in Los Angeles and currently continuing study at Peabody Conservatory with Dr. Ruth Inglefield.  In L.A. she was resident harpist on staff at 1st Presbyterian Church of Hollywood for 3 years where she regularly played over 50 events each year, and also regularly organized events with live music performances of many genres.  As a professional singer and harpist,  Kara has an on-going performance schedule,  playing private and public events as a soloist around the region, and with local orchestras.