Artistic Staff

Kari Hamada holds a Master of Arts degree in Choral Conducting and a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the University of South Florida. She holds a Distinction in Grade 8 Voice, the highest achievement level, from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in London, England. As Director of Music and Worship at Church of the Palms, she oversees worship in general, directs the 70-member Chancel Choir, and coordinates additional musical groups and musical events.

 

Prior to her time at Church of the Palms, Ms. Hamada served as Director of Worship at SouthShore United Methodist Church for two years as well as at Temple Terrace Presbyterian Church for one year. Ms. Hamada taught music in the public school system in the US and abroad for eight years. During her time in Egypt, she built a thriving choral music program and founded the “Cairo Festival of Music for Youth”, the first choral festival of its kind in the region. She is eager to begin her first year as Artistic Director of the Sarasota Choral Society, where she will lead the chorus in their annual performance of Handel’s “Messiah”.

 

From 2015 to 2022, Ms. Hamada was the Assistant Director for the community children’s chorus Sarasota Young Voices. In addition to performances throughout the Sarasota/Bradenton area, she led Sarasota Young Voices on national and international trips, where they performed in some of the most memorable venues in America and Europe.

 

Ms. Hamada is currently a member of the 30-voice professional chorus The Richard Zielinski Singers. This highly select group performs modern repertoire throughout the USA and Europe. She has also been a member of the Choral Artists of Sarasota, the Tampa Opera, and the Cairo Opera. As an experienced voice teacher, she has prepared many students to sit for their ABRSM singing exams with an overwhelming number of them passing with distinction.

 

Ms. Hamada shares her passion for music with her three beautiful children, Emma, Adam, and Joey.