Karla Allingham, Alto - Arizona Masterworks Chorale

Meet the Singer

I was born and raised in Flagstaff, and got my choral singing start at Coconino High School. I graduated from NAU with a journalism degree, but spent most of my spare time in the Choral Music department, where I sang in the Women’s Chorale, University Singers, and Choral Union, under Dr. Jo-Michael Schiebe and Dr. Edith Copley. After college, I sang in NAU’s annual community production of Handel’s “Messiah” for three years, until I married and moved to Phoenix. Then life happened, and I gave up singing for many years. In 2013, I read the book “Imperfect Harmony” by Stacy Horn, and was inspired to start singing again. A friend invited me to choir rehearsal at All Saints’ Lutheran Church one evening, and the rest is history. I joined AMC in the fall of 2015, and the Arizona Musicfest Chorus in 2016. I also sang Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Scottsdale Philharmonic in 2017.

What are your “day job” and Interests?

My career background includes stints working in healthcare public relations, technical writing, as a legal assistant, and in various administrative roles. Currently I work for my sister’s medical billing business, serve as a Poll Worker for Maricopa County Elections, and care for my elderly parents. In my spare time I like to cook, watch sports, and spend time hiking, fishing and camping with Lowell, my husband of 30 years.

Why is it important for you to be a member of AMC?

AMC is important to me, because singing is important to me. Singing in choirs helps me cope with a number of personal and family health challenges. Numerous studies have shown that singing is good for people, physically, mentally, and emotionally. As Stacy Horn writes in “Imperfect Harmony”: “Almost every study of singing I have read comes to the same conclusions: singing feels great and it’s good for you. It decreases feelings of anxiety, loneliness, and depression. There are physical benefits to singing, as well. Studies show that brain activity involved with learning music helps counteract the effects of aging and cognitive decline.” Singing is also shown to improve everything from chronic pain to anxiety and depression. Simply put, singing heals.

What impact do you want AMC to have on the community?

It’s been said that one of the marks of a great city is its commitment to the arts. AMC has a unique part to play in the artistic community of Phoenix. There simply aren’t other groups in the valley that give amateur but passionate singers like myself the opportunity to perform challenging music, both the “masterworks” of the choral repertoire, and unique, impressive works by new composers, that aren’t being performed elsewhere in the Valley. In a world where people often feel lonely and isolated, choral music offers an example of what people can accomplish when we work together. At the same time, it is important to share the message that choral singing is something everyone can do, not just professional musicians, or societal elites. That’s why it’s important that AMC collaborates with organizations like Circle The City that provides healthcare and healing services (including a choir) to people facing homelessness. And why we do outreach to schools like the Global Academy of Phoenix, showing students who might not otherwise have access to choral music that singing is for them, too.