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 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 in 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 include a guest solo artist with 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 has 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 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 here: https://youtu.be/VqyWdmz10h0
