Lisa tours, collaborates, records and performs with artists and ensembles such as Tan Dun, David Simons, Gregory Barsamian, Mary Ziegler, Jenny Lynn McNutt, John Morton, Douglas Dunn, David First, Jacqueline Shatz, Thomas Buckner, Margaret Leng Tan, Muna Tseng, Toni Dove, Denman Maroney, Patrick Grant, Theodora Skipitares, Joshua Fried, Jerome Kitzke and Tony Prabowa's New Jakarta Ensemble; and with Music For Homemade Instruments and Gamelan Son of Lion, for whom she also composes. Lisa produced and composed works for Gamelan Son of Lion's CDs "Bending the Gending" (2002), and "Sonogram" (2009) and Music For Homemade Instruments' CD "Pick Of the Litter" (2000).
Awards include a '95 ArtsLink Collaborative Projects Grant from the NEA/Soros Foundation and an Arts International Travel Grant to further her collaborative projects in Estonia; a ‘96 Harvestworks Programming Residency; a '97 ArtsLink grant to create "Puhamu", a multi-media music-performance installation in Tallinn, Estonia; and various Meet The Composer Awards. Lisa and collaborator David Simons received grants from the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, the Jerome Foundation, The Greenwall Foundation and The Aaron Copland Fund to compose, develop and record their chamber opera "The Birth of George", sponsored by Harvestworks and American Opera Projects; released on CD under Harvestworks TELLUS Label. In 2003 Lisa was awarded funding from The Greenwall Foundation and Arts International to support her current work "Woman's Song: The Story of Roro Mendut".
In January 2000: Lisa performed in Bali and Java, in David Simons "Music For Theremin and Gamelan" and as guest vocalist with Javanese composer Tony Prabowo's New Jakarta Ensemble at the Sacred Rhythm Festival; in the U.S. she presented works from "The Simurgh", an opera-in progress with texts by Olive Schreiner and novelist Doris Lessing, at Galapagos' New Music Series in Brooklyn; and the Outer Voices Series in New York City.
In 2001, Lisa remounted "Triskelion" with choreographer Douglas Dunn at 92nd St Y, performed with Jerome Kitzke in the "Great Day in New York" series at Alice Tully Hall; Gamelan Son of Lion and the Mark Morris Dance Company at BAM; in Barbara Benary's gamelan opera "Esther" at HERE Theater, and taught master classes in composition for dance at Polli Talu Arts Center in Estonia. In 2002 she was soloist in David First's score for Theodora Skiptares' work "The Rise and Fall of Timur the Lame" at LaMama.
In Oct 2003 Lisa premiered "Woman's Song: The Story of Roro Mendut", at the Kitchen in co-production with World Music Institute; she also received Arts International funding to bring "Woman's Song" to Estonia's Glasperlenspiel Festival. "Woman's Song" is a multi-arts Wayang Opera composed and directed by Karrer, with shadow puppets by Kate Yourke, video by Jenny Lynn McNutt and lighting design by Carol Mullins; featuring Gamelan Son of Lion, Indonesian dancers and martial arts performers. In 2004 Lisa created a sound installation in Zagreb, Croatia for Ivana Sajko's "MASS For Election Day Silence" with David Simons and BADco ensemble.
In 2006 she premiered "River Kotekan", for gamelan, pianists and vocalists, at Merkin Hall's Interpretations Series in NYC. Lisa premiered "Schismism Pt 1: Fractured America", a multi-arts solo project, at NYC's The Flea Theater in Feb.2007, with interactive sculpture by Gregory Barsamian. In 2009 Lisa's video "Ziarah Dalam Gereja Gunung" was featured in Rockland Center for the Arts Media Room, and her video "Claudia Smith" commissioned by Denman Maroney was premiered with his composition at GAGA Arts Center. In 2010 Lisa composed "Alice", an adaptation of Alice In Wonderland, through a commission from Ramapo College's Berrie Center for the Arts. From 2008 to the present Lisa performs her multi-media show "Schismism: Natural Law" based on the life of Charles Darwin, at venues including NYC's Living Theatre, Dixon Place and Cornelia Street Cafe's Entertaining Science, Binghamton University's EvOS series, CA University San Marcos' Darwin Symposium and SEMI Electronic Festival in Hartford CT. Lisa is currently developing a new multi-media project focusing on the evolution of the English language from Early Modernism through the present.
2008-11 SCHISMISM: NATURAL LAW 2008-11 Multi-media performance about Charles Darwin in collaboration with David Simons; The Living Theatre, Dixon Place, Cornelia Street Cafe NYC, Binghamton University, CAL State at San Marcos, Ramapo College, SEMI Electronic Festival Hartford CT, Kripalu Yoga Institute
2010 ALICE - commissioned composer for new production at Ramapo College / Berrie Center for the Arts
2009 Rockland Composers Series - New works for voice and video at RoCA (Rockland Center for the Arts); Collision Theory - duet concerts with David Simons at the Flea Theatre NYC and Pomona Arts Center; Performance Installations at AIR Gallery Bklyn, RoCA (Rockland Center for the Arts), Gaga/Garnerville Arts Center; SONOGRAM CD release (with Gamelan Son of Lion) at Galapagos Bklyn
2007 SCHISMISM pt 1: FRACTURED AMERICA Multi-media solo with triggered sculpture by Gregory Barsamian;
presented by the Flea Theatre "Music With A View" series, curated by Kathy Supove.
2006 RIVER KOTEKAN Composition for pianos, vocalists and gamelan orchestra; Renee Weiler Concert Hall
and Merkin Concert Hall, NYC
2001-03 WOMAN'S SONG: THE STORY OF RORO MENDUT Multi-arts music theater production; previewed at Indonesian Consulate, The New School, Glasperlenspiel Festival, Estonia *Premiered at the Kitchen/NYC 2003,
co-produced by The World Music Institute, funded by The Greenwall Foundation, Arts International, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and NYSCA.
2000 THE SIMURGH Opera-in progress based on South African writer Olive Schreiner’s texts
Presented excerpts in "Endangered Opera" concerts at Galapagos (Brooklyn) & Cornelia Street Cafe (NYC)
PASS THE GODDAM SPINACH Composed for Gamelan Son of Lion Greenwich Music House, NYC
1999 TRISKELION Composed and performed score for voice/sampler/ steel guitar for Douglas Dunn & Dancers Riverside Church, NYC (and '03 at 92nd St Y)
A HOUSE IN BALI Composed for Gamelan Son of Lion Greenwich Music House; Knitting Factory, NYC
ONE VOICE TWO PIANOS Compositions for Voice and Piano, in collaboration with Denman Maroney and Jerome Kitzke, for the North River Music Composer’s Series Greenwich Music House, NYC
1998 THE SIMONS-KARRER BAND Compositions for quintet Ysbreker, Holland; Logos, Belgium; Halle, Germany; St. Johann, Austria
1997 PUHAMU (Sanctuary) Multi-media music-performance installation St. Nicholas Church, Tallinn, Estonia
THE BIRTH OF GEORGE Chamber opera composed in collaboration with David Simons LaMama, NYC
THE LAST LAF Composed for Music For Homemade Instruments Performed/recorded for January 2000 release MFHI CD, ‘PICK OF THE LITTER’
1996 ZIBOR RILJKE (SOUND OF THE RIVER) Voice and movement collaboration with Bosnian choreographer Valentina Cabro Danse Atelier, Rotterdam Holland
1995 MOONPULSE Film score for 2 voices, drum, flute, bamboo instruments Filmed in Tallinn, Estonia
1994 DESCANSOS Score for six voices and windwands The Music Gallery, Toronto
NEW MUSIC FROM NEW YORK AND TALLINN Karrer/Simons collaboration with Tunnetusuksus Ensemble, Von Krahli Theatre, Tallinn, Estonia
1993 THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA Score for women’s cast, men’s ensemble and soloists Skidmore College, NY
1992 EMAPOLV Dance cantata with vocal score for Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Premiered at National Drama Theater, Tallinn, Estonia; Pace University, NYC
BRAND NEW STORIES Solo concert with video interaction One Dream Theater, NYC; Rushmore Festival, NY; Array Music, Toronto
1991 VOICES IN THE FIELD Composed for soloists and choral ensemble Washington Square Church, NYC; The Hudson Waterfront Museum, Liberty State Park, New Jersey; Palenville Interarts Colony, NY; European tour: Wuppertal, Koln, Munster, Germany; Arava Kibbutzim, Israel
1990 CASSANDRA Score for women’s vocal trio for Rick Merrill Dance Company; DIA Arts, NYC
1989 THE BACCHAE Score for DAK Theater and music ensemble; Gowanus Arts Center, Brooklyn NY; Westbeth Theater Center, NYC
HEARTBEAST Multi-media performance with HEAP Theater; ABC No Rio, NYC; Woodstock Center, NY; on tour: Melkweg, Holland; The Schloss, Munich; Haus Steinstrasse, Leipzig; Kammertheater, Neubrandenburg
1988 THE WOMEN ON MY MOTHER'S SIDE A capella opera Premiered at The Knitting Factory, NYC
1987 BABY TRIALS Duet performance work in collaboration with Roberta Levine Dixon Place, NYC; New Haven, CT; Groundswell Festival, Toronto
1986 RAIN Solo vocal score for Choreographer Colin Connor; Dancer’s Workshop, Portland Oregon
1985 WOMEN OUT BIRDING Choral performance work based on sounds gathered during year-long world travels The Knitting Factory, NYC
1984 THE MADONNA EXPERIMENT Choral performance work, with text by Roberta Levine P.S. 122; The Knitting Factory, NYC
1983 TRIANGLES EQUALLY ABREAST Music and multi-media performance installation for large ensemble, in collaboration with performance artist Roberta Levine
JAM (Just Above Midtown Downtown), NYC
Video Works:
CLAUDIUS SMITH (2009) Performance video commissioned by composer Denman Maroney, GAGA and Tenri Arts NYC
MARY'S SITE (2008) Sculpture study of visual artist Mary Ziegler, RoCA (Rockland Center for the Arts), Flea Theatre NYC, A.I.R. Gallery Bklyn)
THREE DARWIN FILMS (2008) From "Schismism: Natural Law" / The Living Theatre, Cornelia St Cafe', Cal State Univ.
THE DAY MY HOUSE CAME TO VISIT (2008) The Living Theatre NYC, A.I.R. Gallery Bklyn
MY FATHER'S BRAIN (2007) The Living Theatre NYC, Flea Theatre NYC, AIR Gallery Bklyn, Pomona Arts Center
LIVING AMONGST US 3010 (2007) Documentary of Arts Program at Brooklyn School for Career Development, commissioned by Young Audiences New York
ZIARAH DALAM GEREJA GUNUNG (2006) Text by Sitor Situmorang RoCA, The Living Theatre NYC, Flea Theatre NYC, Pomona Arts Center
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL (2006) Flea Theatre NYC, Grace Space Bklyn
CONFUSIONARY MANIFESTO (2005) Study of Frank Gehry's architecture Flea Theatre, Cornelia St. Cafˇ NYC
THE CREATIVE PROCESS (2005) Workshop Documentary, commissioned by Avampato Discovery Museum
WOMAN'S SONG: THE STORY OF RORO MENDUT (2004) Full performance video / The Kitchen, NYC
I PAUSE IN STILLNESS (2004) Documentary of the late Indonesian dance scholar Deena Burton, NYC
Discography
2009 FUNG SHA NOON/ David Simons / TZADIK / ensemble
2008 SONOGRAM / Gamelan Son of Lion / INNOVA / composer, ensemble
2004 PRISMATIC HEARING / David Simons /TZADIK; Featured artist
2003 THE BIRTH OF GEORGE / TELLUS Chamber opera co-composed with David Simons
2002 BENDING THE GENDING / Gamelan Son of Lion; CD Producer, composer/ contributor
2001 IF ONE SHOULD HAPPEN TO FALL / Patrick Grant/Strange Music; Featured vocalist
2000 PICK OF THE LITTER / Music For Homemade Instruments; CD Producer, composer/ contributor
1999 THE CHARACTER OF AMERICAN SUNLIGHT / Jerome Kitzke/Koch Classics; Featured vocalist
CHINA EXCHANGE / Jason Hwang/CRI; Featured artist
1994 PAPER MUSIC / Tan Dun /Parnassus; Featured vocalist
Other Performances and International Tours:
2001 JEROME KITZKE AND THE MAD COYOTE Vocalist with Jerome Kitzke at Lincoln Center’s "Great Day in New York" series Alice Tully Hall, NYC
MARK MORRIS DANCE COMPANY Performed with Gamelan Son of Lion for the Mark Morris Dance Company The Brooklyn Academy of Music
ESTHER PURIMSPIEL Barbara Benary’s gamelan opera; performed as solo vocalist and ensemble member with Gamelan Son of Lion HERE Theater, NYC
2000 NEW JAKARTA ENSEMBLE Guest soloist performing the work of Javanese composer Tony Prabowo Sacred Rhythm Festival, Bali, and TUK Theater, Jakarta, Indonesia
MUSIC FOR THEREMIN AND GAMELAN and VIRTUAL PERCUSSION TRIO Featured performer in works by composer David Simons The Sacred Rhythm Festival, Bali, and TUK Theater, Jakarta, Indonesia
1999 JEROME KITZKE AND THE MAD COYOTE Soloist at WNYC’s ‘New Sounds Live; Merkin Concert Hall NYC
1998 COCCA MOCCA Collaboration with choreographer Douglas Dunn and Dancers, St. Mark’s Danspace, NYC
1996 JEROME KITZKE AND THE MAD COYOTE Soloist Roulette, NYC
SPELL FOR OPENING THE MOUTH OF N Joshua Fried/Douglas Dunns’ collaboration The Kitchen, NYC
YOGYAKARTA GAMELAN FESTIVAL Java, Indonesia with Gamelan Son of Lion and Music For Homemade Instruments ensembles
1995 THE MANHATTAN BOOK OF THE DEAD David First’s opera featuring Thomas Buckner LaMama, NYC
1994 THE PINK With composer Tan Dun and choreographer Muna Tseng , Hong Kong, NYC, Chicago, NYYD Festival, Tallinn, Estonia
"CAGE II" By Tan Dun (world premiere) Soloist with pianist Margaret Leng Tan and Mongolian director/vocal artist Sheng-yi Chen Lincoln Center , NYC
(photo:Ed Kirstein)
Lisa Karrer works internationally as a composer, director, vocalist and performance artist, performing her works in Eastern and Western Europe, Israel, Asia, Indonesia, Canada and the U.S. She uses vocal music as her primary form of communication and is especially interested in re-activating world languages in order to explore and interpret transverse lines of contemporary and ancestral world cultures. Lisa has studied voice with Andrea Goodman of the Meredith Monk Ensemble, Richard Armstrong and Kevin Crawford of the Roy Hart Theater in France and Sjabbe Von Selfout of Spain. She is also an accomplished stilt dancer.