Kari Marie - girlwithapiano

Originally from the Minneapolis area, Kari began studying piano in 1993 and completed her Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia College in 2009. During her years at college, she sang in Cantabile under June Rauschnabel and the Concordia Choir under Dr. Rene Clausen. She performed in jazz band through junior and senior high school, and currently plays with the Dakota Jazz Big Band. Kari has been accompanying choirs, soloists, and small ensembles since 1996 and currently is an accompanist at Sheyenne High School for the choir, band, and orchestra departments. She has also been a church pianist for several years at a local parish in Fargo, a Lutheran church in Moorhead, and has had the honor of providing piano music for both weddings and funerals alike over the decades. Kari has been a featured pianist at West Acres Mall over the past few winter seasons, performing holiday music for shoppers on the baby grand piano in spectacular style."Lorie Line of Fargo" has been a recent nickname given by her followers. In addition to her piano endeavors, Kari has sung as a member in each of the community choral organizations: the Fargo Moorhead Choral Artists and the Master Chorale.

Kari has also pursued an active solo singer/songwriter career, performing in the Minneapolis circuit from 2006-2009 and performing in Fargo regularly since 2012. She organized and presented an annual Carole King tribute from 2016-2019 featuring Pat Lenertz, Jessica Vines, and other prominent local musicians. Other local bands that Kari has performed with include: The Human Element, The Gina Powers Band, Kari Marie Trio, Willie Waldman Project, and the Blue Wailers. The Human Element received grants from The Arts Partnership and Jade Presents for two consecutive years, which helped fund the two studio albums that the group released. Kari herself was the 2024 recipient of an Individual Artist Grant from TAP to support her ministry of promoting acoustic piano music in more local public spaces. Performing highlights as a featured artist include shows at Dempsey’s/Aquarium, the Fargo Theatre, the Red River Market, Celebration of Women in Music, and the Woodstock Anniversary concert at Bluestem. She is currently focusing on developing material for a variety of girlwithapiano performances, playing for corporate events, as well as teaching piano privately.