Karen Melamed Smith studied piano and composition at the Music Institute of Chicago while growing up and has taught piano and various music and movement classes in similar community schools in NYC and at CSMA for many years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in piano performance from the University of Southern California (USC), a Masters in Liberal Studies (with a concentration in Philosophy and the Arts) from The New School for Social Research, and provisional certification in elementary education through SUNY Cortland. Karen performs locally, often in programs presented by Music’s Recreation and as a member of the piano/string trio, “Three.” She served as music director of the Hector Presbyterian Church from 1998-2012.