Karen DiSanto – Fairmount Strings
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Karen DiSanto

Karen Di Santo, a native of Ontario, Canada has been a member of the Bay-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra (southern NJ) for over 17 years. In addition to its annual classical concert season, the Bay-Atlantic Symphony is the orchestra-in-residence at the Cape May Music Festival from May–June each summer. Summer season also includes a concert series in Avalon and starting this year, a Classical Music Concert Series at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, NJ. To kick off its 25th anniversary year, Bay-Atlantic Symphony first performed at the Borgata with Cirque de la Symphonie in September of 2008 and has continued to perform concerts annually since then.

Karen received a B.A. in Honors Clarinet Performance from Wilfrid Laurier University (Ont., Canada) as a student of Victor Sawa and a M.M. in Clarinet Performance from Temple University where she studied with Anthony Gigliotti (Philadelphia Orchestra). Through her participation in summer music festivals in Canada and the US, she has enjoyed highly influential master classes with Stanley Hasty and Alan Hacker. At the Banff Centre she was an Artist-in-Residence and performed a summer season with the Banff Centre Opera Orchestra. Karen’s free-lance work in the greater Philadelphia region includes orchestral and chamber music performances with Academy of Vocal Arts, Concerto Soloists, Elysian Camerata, Bach Choir of Bethlehem, Fairmount Strings and Chester County Choral Society. In 2006-2007 she recorded Mozart’s Requiem K. 626 and Verdi Requiem with Vox Ama Deus Ensemble on the Lyrichord label and in 2012, a clarinet quartet by Robert Russell Bennett for a privately-funded project that includes the complete chamber music of Bennett.

Karen currently serves as the Program Associate for Network for New Music, a Philadelphia based organization that presents, commissions, and performs music by living composers. She also loves to teach and has a thriving home teaching studio in Springfield, PA, where she lives with her husband Christopher, and two children.

Kind Words

Friday evening’s performance…by the members of the Fairmount String Quartet was splendid…the playing was expert to the point of perfection.

Michael Caruso, Chestnut Hill Local

From more classical music to fun contemporary songs, Fairmount Strings knocked it out of the park.

Alison F., bride

We are so grateful that Fairmount Strings made our wedding day vision come to life. 

Jocelyn G., bride

The quartet was magnificent and so very professional. One guest said the setting and the quartet made the ceremony storybook!

Joanne F., Bride

Last night the audience told you so well what I am trying to put into words now. Thank you for an unbelievably beautiful concert!

Alice Nugent, Candlelight Concerts at Laurel Hill

The beautiful sound of your music will stay with me always. It was simply stunning and made our day feel like a fairy tale.

Julie & Tom B., Bride and Groom

Adding to their laurels — professionalism, intuition and timeliness, we look forward to many future musical endeavors with the Fairmount Chamber Ensemble.

Kevin O’Malia, Director of Music, First United Methodist Church of Germantown

I made a point of standing off to the side in the back of the church to listen. It was….well….perfection.

Chris C., Mother of the Bride

It is such a privilege to work with musicians of their caliber who are so genuinely committed to supporting the growth and development of our students.

Stephen Kushner, Director of Choral Music, Germantown Friends School

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your beautiful performance, which helped to make the vision and dream I had for my daughter’s wedding day come true.

Jeanne B., Mother of the Bride

They are wonderful musicians, easy to work with, and deliver performances of consistently high quality.

Clair Rozier, Director of Music, St. David’s Episcopal Church

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