About Us

My Background

Karen's Kids is a children's performing group made up of kids between the ages of 5 and 14 years old. If you know of a child who loves to sing and dance, this is the place for them to recieve the best training in voice and performance available in Southern California. My name is Karen Blackburn and I have a degree in Music Education from Cal. State Fullerton. I received my teaching credential from Cal. Poly Pomona, and I have been teaching elementary music in the Rowland Unified School District for 11 years. I have been a private voice teacher for 25 years and my students have sung on television and in movies, (Kids Incorporated, Star Search, The Mickey Mouse Club, Beaches, General Hospital), on the Broadway stage, (The Producers, Into The Woods, Annie), and in many other professional productions around the world. Many of my students have gone on to college and are successful teachers, business people, entrepreneurs, and parents.

Our History

Karen's Kids began as a small group of 12 kids in the summer of 1978. As I recall, 15 tried out, and I took 12 of them. That first group was unbelievably talented, and set the standard. Two of the most talented singers that I have ever worked with, came from that first group. They were LuAnne Ponce, and Toni Shelby. For the past 30 years, Karen's Kids have performed throughout Southern California, and even as far away as Hawaii! The group performed in Las Vegas, and has been performing on Catalina Island every year since 1981.

My Goal

My main goal is to help kids to become the best performer that they can be. If they never perform again after they leave Karen's Kids, then I hope that they are able to take away a sense of self confidence, and a love of music and dance.