Two men who are very successful composers. Two men in love with the same woman. Which one is the better man?
Growing up in the Lebanese culture, Ms. Karem wasn’t exposed to opera until college, when she performed in
her first one – act opera, Beauty and the Beast (Vittorio Gianni), and knew that this was what she wanted to do.
As a malleable performer, Jodi Karem has been described as “astonishing to witness her versatility”. She
performs in both opera and concert in a variety of roles and styles throughout the United States, Europe and the
Middle East. In 2024, Ms. Karem performed the roles of Miss Havisham (Miss Havisham’s Wedding Night) at
OperaFest Dunedin and at St. John’s in the Village in NYC, Mme. Lidoine (Dialogues des Carmélites) under
the baton of Gregory Buchalter, and Hélène (Hélène) by Camille Saint-Saëns with South Florida Lyric Opera.
In 2025, Ms. Karem was a guest solo artist with OperaMaya in Cancun, Mexico and with Opera Classica
Europa in Germany. In 2026, Ms. Karem will perform various concerts in Florida and Missouri as well as an
American Musical Concert in Germany.
In 2023, Ms. Karem had the opportunity to cover the role of Leonore (Fidelio) with St. Petersburg Opera
under the baton of Maestro Mark Sforzini and perform in several preview concerts of this wonderful opera.
She also performed with South Florida Lyric Opera in the roles of Mme. Patacha (Pierrette et Jacquot) and
the title role Herminie (Berlioz). In 2022, Ms. Karem performed in music festivals such as Music @ Moccasin
Lake and Arts Earth Festival in Mississippi. In 2021, Ms. Karem performed the role of Lady Macbeth both in
Opera for Earth’s New York City production and in Austin, TX for the Neill Cochran House Museum’s Porch
Concerts Series. In 2019, Ms. Karem was a prize winner in the Lyra New York International Vocal
Competition, Opera Division. Ms. Karem’s 2019 performances include the role Alice Ford (Falstaff) and
Gertrud (A Hand of Bridge) as well as concert performances in Dubai, UAE and in Germany. In Ms.
Karem’s performance of Venus in Wagner’s Dresden version of Tannhäuser with Apotheosis Opera in New
York City, she “inhabited her role with seductive tone and movements”. In her portrayal as the Mother in
Amahl & the Night Visitors, Ms. Karem “reached emotional and vocal heights that set the pulse racing and the
emotional barometer practically bursting” (BrooklynDiscovery.com).
Ms. Karem premiered the role of Lady Mabel with the Center for Contemporary Opera's production of The
Secret Agent in New York City, the European debut with the Armel Festival in Hungary as well as in Avignon,
France at Opera Grand Avignon. The release of The Secret Agent CD features Ms. Karem as part of the debut
cast. Miss Karem has premiered numerous new operas: The Secret Agent, Kafka’s Women, Venus and
Adonis, and Ada. As a mezzo soprano, Ms. Karem has performed with Springfield Regional Opera, Long
Leaf Opera, Union Avenue Opera, Inter Cities Opera, Florentine Opera’s Italian Festival, Skylight
Opera, Natchez Opera Festival, Center for Contemporary Opera, Armel Opera Festival and Opera
Grand Avignon. In a performance of Santuzza with Cape Cod Opera, Ms. Karem’s performance was
described as "one of the finest performances I have witnessed, not just stylistically, but in every other way -
acting, emotion, facial expression, body movement." (operaOnline.us)
Recent concert performances the Athena Music Foundation in Dubai, UAE, with the Canton Symphony
Orchestra, performing scenes from Tosca and Tannhaüser, and with New York Dramatic Voices in excerpts
from La Gioconda and La Fanciulla del West. Other performances include a performance at Carnegie Hall
as a Soloist in Mozart's Vesperae solennes de confessore, as a soloist at Carnegie Hall in Mozart's Requiem,
soloist in the Dayton Philharmonic's Messiah, as guest artists with the Canton Symphony Orchestra, as a
soloist with the Louisville Orchestra, a concert and master class at Wabash College, as a soloist with the Palm
Beach Theatre Guild, Waukegan Public Library Concert Series, Northwest Community Church Concert Series,
and Carmen preview concerts with Florentine Opera in Milwaukee. Ms. Karem has been a prize winner and
scholarship recipient with Opera Columbus Competition, National Opera Association, Marguerite McCammon
Vocal Competition, Lyra New York International Vocal Competition, Aspen Music Festival, Bay Area
Summer Opera Theatre Institute and Opera Theatre of Lucca. Young artist programs include Natchez Opera
Festival, Cincinnati Opera Outreach Ensemble, Utah Opera, and Aspen Opera Theatre. Ms. Karem also
performs in recital throughout the United States, and had the opportunity to perform as a solo artist for the
Metropolitan Opera Guild's "Spinning Strauss" Master Class Series with Jane Marsh as well as for the Lincoln
Center Patrons.
Ms. Karem works to grow her home community’s exposure to opera and musical arts. She raises funds to give
musical training and performance experience to young kids, teaching them vocal and acting skills and shows
them her love of musical arts in order to create our next generation of singers and music lovers. She has also
worked with children from the Delta, an impoverished community in Mississippi, giving them musical
enrichment summer programs. Her documentary of this experience has been invited to 4 film festivals. See it
Julie grew up in a musical household because her mother, Nancy Badger, was a public
elementary school music teacher. Julie earned her Bachelor’s Degree at Oberlin College, where
she studied with Richard Young.
In her home state of New York, she continued her violin studies with Betty-Jean Hagen, and
played in The Woodstock Chamber Orchestra under the baton of world renowned conductor and
cellist Luis Garcia-Renart. She also played with The Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra
and taught Suzuki violin lessons and classes at the Dutchess Community College Music School.
Currently, Julie is concertmistress of the Suncoast Symphony (John Bannon) and the Pinellas
Community Orchestra (Art Hansuld), and plays with the Tampa Bay Symphony. Julie has
previously performed with Opera for Earth when she was concertmistress for Dialogues of the
Carmelites under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter in 2024.
She provides violin music at weddings and other events, as part of a string quartet, trio, duo or
solo, as leader of The Paradies Ensemble (ParadiesEnsemble.com), which includes her husband
Jim Paradies playing the trumpet.
Julie teaches violin lessons to all ages in her home studio in Largo and recently took a Suzuki
Teacher refresher course.
Teresa Ancaya has been a pianist with the St. Pete Opera since 2009, playing rehearsals,
concerts, outreach and much more. Ms. Ancaya has also performed with esteemed organizations
such as Opera Tampa, USF Chamber Singers, The Master Chorale, Patel Conservatory, Gulf
Coast Youth Choirs, Orlando Opera, The Florida Orchestra, The American Musical & Dramatic
Academy, Vienna Summer Music Festival, Opera Lakeland and Opera for Earth.
Ms. Ancaya holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance (Cum Laude) as well as a Master
of Music in Piano Performance from the University of South Florida in Tampa. She has studied
piano accompaniment from the University of Miami and in Salzburg, Austria. She held a piano
instructor positions at Hillsborough Community College, Southeastern University, Florida
International University and University of South Florida. Although a busy performer, Ms.
Ancaya also has a private studio in Lutz, Fl.
Known mainly for her piano skills, Ms. Ancaya is well – versed in choral music as well. She has
sung as a chorus member with several organizations such as Opera Tampa, USF Singers as well
as for various churches and synagogues throughout Tampa Bay. As a freelancer, Ms. Ancaya
stays very busy and is seen throughout Tampa Bay playing piano in the opera scene, churches,
schools, country clubs, hotels and restaurants.
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