Ms. Karla Scott
Director, Gospel Choir

KARLA SCOTT, music director of the USNA Gospel Choir, has earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Pedagogy from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC and a Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Maryland at College Park where she received a Full Fellowship Award for Graduate Study. She is first-prize winner of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and American Women in Radio and Television Competitions. Her operatic debut was as Pamina in Mozart's The Magic Flute in Rome, Italy. She has performed at the Kennedy Center, in recital for Opera Ebony Concert Guild, and with the Greensboro Symphony; Evening at the Pops, Christmas Concerts, and a concert version of Porgy and Bess. Ms. Scott has performed the Mahler 4th with the NOI Symphony and appeared in a documentary film about the life of Jester Hairston.

She served as Instructor of Music at Bennett College for Women where she directed the touring choir. Under her leadership, the choir performed for President Clinton at the 50th Anniversary of UNCF. The choir also performed at the opening ceremonies of Africa University in Zimbabwe, Africa at the invitation of President Mugabe. Based on student nominations from Bennett College, Ms. Scott was listed in the national volume, Who's Who Among America's Teachers for two consecutive years. By vote of the college faculty and staff, she received the Faculty Service Award from Bennett College. Ms. Scott has begun Doctoral training in Music at the University of Maryland, College Park. As part of her research, she traveled to Beijing, China to train and study conservatory singers. Ms. Scott was invited to sing for former South African President Nelson Mandela at the Anwar Sadat Lecture for Peace. In 2001, she released her debut recording entitled JOYRIVER. Most recently in November of 2005, she was a guest soloist at the funeral services of Mrs. Rosa Parks at Metropolitan AME in Washington, DC. She is honored to serve the body of Christ as teacher and psalmist and has shared ministry settings with Israel Houghton and New Breed, Twinkie Clark of the Clark Sisters, Richard Smallwood, Ron Kenoly, Smokey Norful, Alvin Slaughter, Maurette Brown-Clark, Keith Childress, Jonathan Butler, Dr. Myles Monroe, Bishop T.D. Jakes, and many others.