Iris Karlin, a native Israeli, is an internationally acclaimed soprano, song leader, worship leader, director, conductor, composer and educator.
Iris started her musical path as an opera, operetta and musicals singer, praised for her rare combination of stage presence and musicianship from critics and conductors alike. She continued to directing and conducting choirs, and operas, as well as kids shows. Iris is now on her path to become a Cantor, studying at Hebrew Union College, and serving as a student Cantor at Congregation Adas Emuno in Leonia, NJ.
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Iris academic credentials start with graduating Rubin Conservatory in Haifa, in Piano, Flute & Voice. Iris earned a Bachelor of Arts in music and honors program on the Dean’s list Summa Cum Laude, followed by an MA in Education Magna Cum Laude from Haifa University, Israel. She pursued Graduate Studies in opera, at Tel-Aviv's Buchman Mehta School of Music. In Israel. Iris is now a third year cantorial student at Hebrew Union College, Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music.
Iris's performing credits include many character light comic roles as: Adele (Die Fledermaus), Frasquita (Carmen), Najade (Ariadne auf Naxos), Oscar (Un Ballo), Norina (Don Pasquale), Adina (L’elisir D’amore), Susanna (the Marriage of Figaro), Despina (Cosi Fan Tutte), Papagena (The Magic Flute), Serpina (La Serva Padrona), Amore (Orfeo ed Euridice), as well as more lyrical heroines as Violetta (La Traviata), Mimi & Musetta (La Boheme), Marguerite (Faust), Fiordiligi (Cosi Fan Tutte), Carmen & Micaela (Carmen), Massenet’ title roles in Manon & Cendrillon, The title role in Korsakov’s Snegurochka, Rosalinda (Die Fledermaus), Rosina (The Marriage of Figaro), Pamina (The Magic Flute), Gemma (Gemma di Vergy) & Hanna Glawari (The Merry widow). Most notably Iris played Susanna in the U.S. premiere production of Mercadante's I due Figaro and Pamina in the U.S. premiere of Peter von Winter's Das Labyrinth under the baton of Metropolitan Opera conductor Gregory Buchalter.
In the educational front, Iris is an Early Education music specialist, and pre pandemic taught and song lead at several preschools in NJ and NY. She teaches Judaics and Hebrew, as well as Bnei Mitzva tutoring and Jewish Music in Hebrew schools. She teaches voice and serves as a music and theater director in summer camps.
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“Iris Karlin was an absolutely delightful Susanna whom I loved from the moment she opened her mouth. Karlin handled the vocal acrobatics with ease and resonated high notes powerful enough to hit the back wall. She was a fitting counter to Quintana’s Figaro as she, too, showed her acting chops through her character’s emotional underpinnings.”(Amy Armstrong – Stage Magazine 10/19/11)
Iris Karlin
Amore Opera Academy - Iolanthe
New York Lyric Opera - Marriage of Figaro
Amore Opera Academy - H.M.S. Pinafore
Amore Opera - co-directing La Boheme with Nathan Hull
Amore Opera Academy - Pirates of Penzance
Amore Opera Academy - Mikado
Pacific Opera - Gypsy Fest
Pacific Opera - Carmen
Pacific Opera - Snegurochka
Pacific Opera - pop opera production at Canegie Hall, Weill Hall.
Summer Camps kids musicals productions
In Israel Iris served as the house conductee of the Haifa University choir, Bney-Brit Choir, and the Welfare Office Choir.