KAREN BRIGGS

Karen Briggs is an American violinist.
Taking violin lessons from an early age, Briggs attended Norfolk State University after graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1981. There, she majored in music education and mass media. By 1983, she was playing with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, where she remained for the next four years. After marrying in 1988 and moving to Los Angeles, Briggs embarked on her first professional tour with Soul II Soul and toured throughout America and Japan. In 1991, Briggs auditioned for Yanni, the contemporary instrumental keyboard composer. She spent the next 13 years touring and recording with him. Briggs also made her Carnegie Hall debut in 1994, performing with pianist Dave Grusin. She has also performed with a number of other artists over the years including Stanley Clarke, the Wu Tang Clan, En Vogue and Chaka Khan, Wynton Marsalis, Benise, Marla Gibbs, Kenny Loggins, Ashley Maher, Taliesin Orchestra, and Diana Ross. Her career includes appearances in many TV/movie soundtracks as well as various other concerts (ranging from Carnegie Hall to Harlem's Apollo Theater) and TV shows.

Briggs has a natural ability to improvise in various styles of music, such as symphonic orchestra, Latin orchestra, R & B, gospel, jazz ensemble and even rap.

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