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Conductor of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra
and Illinois Chamber Orchestra, Karen Lynne
Deal is creating new opportunities for people
of all ages to come to know and enjoy orchestral
music. Known for a “focused energy that gives
her technique strength and precision,” and an
“exuberant, polished style,” she is an enthusiastic
audience builder with a fresh approach to classical
music making, through innovative programming,
outdoor public concerts, community speaking
engagements and special appearances at area
schools. In her brief tenure with the Illinois
Symphony Orchestra she has already won the
Illinois Humanities Council, “Studs Terkel” award for her service in education and outreach,
the Illinois Council of Orchestras award for “Community Service,” the Springfield Art’s
Council, Mayor’s Award for Individual Artist of the Year, and the Illinois Council of
Orchestras award for “Meritorious Service in Outstanding Programming.” She is a favorite
guest speaker and advocate for the arts wherever she goes, and is often called upon to
present lectures on leadership and diversity inclusion for academic and civic groups.
As Associate Conductor of the Nashville Symphony from 1992-2000, Ms. Deal made a true
impact on the public at large, winning widespread praise for enhancing the symphony’s role
in the community through innovative education programs and outreach initiatives to
minority audiences. Ms. Deal also served as Music Director and Conductor of Nashville
Ballet from 1992-2000, and has been a frequent guest conductor with the Nashville Opera
Association since 1992. Before moving to Nashville, Ms. Deal spent six years as Associate
Conductor of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, and was Founding Music Director of the
Sinfonia Concertante, a professional chamber orchestra noted for its commitment to living
composers. She made her European debut in Vienna, Austria with the Pro Arte Orchestra in
1984 while attending postgraduate school at the Hochschule Fur Musik und Darnstellende
Kunst. She also assisted at the Frankfurt State Opera before returning to the United States
to pursue doctoral studies at The Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore. She has
received conducting scholarships both at the Aspen and Tanglewood Music Festivals, and in
1989 won the National Repertory Orchestra Biennial Conducting Competition.
Ms. Deal’s public image is wide ranging, from appearances on PBS’ Nova science series, to the
1997 “Coolest People,” award by Nashville Life magazine. She has received citations of
appreciation from: the Mayor of Nashville, in “recognition of her years of leadership as creator,
conductor, and coordinator of “Let Freedom Ring,” an annual musical tribute to Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr.;” the Nashville Public Schools Board of Education, for her “curriculum based
performances... expanding children’s knowledge of music using a musical format to teach history,
social studies, language arts and visual arts;” and from the Council of the Metropolitan
Government of Nashville, for her “passionate approach to educating her young audiences” and
“creating the next generation of symphony audiences and Art’s advocates....”
Recent guest conducting engagements have included the Springfield (MO) Symphony
Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Waterloo/Cedar Falls
(Iowa), Tulsa, Tucson, Sacramento, Richmond, Westmoreland, Brevard, and Bremerton
Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Kansas City Camerata. At home with a wide variety of
styles and concert formats, Maestra Deal has conducted for such prominent soloists as Itzhak
Perlman, James Galway, and William Warfield, as well as popular artists, Peter, Paul and
Mary, Chet Atkins, Kathy Mattea, and Mercedes Ellington. The summer of 2002 found Ms.
Deal returning to guest conduct the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado
in the Colorado premiere of Chicago composer, Stacy Garrop’s, Thunderwalker. Summer of
2003 took her to Mexico City where she guest conducted the Orchester del Nuovo Mundo, in
the concert premiere of, Mujeres e Musicas, featuring Mexican premieres by female composers
including works by Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn, Maria Grever and Maria
Martinez. In addition, Ms. Deal is a regular faculty member at the Conductor’s Institute at
Bard College in New York.
