Karyn Taylor-Moore as Mrs. Fezziwig, Caroller

Since 2007 Karyn has performed as a member of Christchurch’s locally-based opera chorus, first for Southern Opera, in their productions of Carmen, Il Trovatore, and The Magic Flute, and subsequently for New Zealand Opera in productions of Don Giovanni, La bohème, Madama Butterfly, La Traviata, Carmen, Tosca, The Marriage of Figaro, Macbeth, Così fan tutte, and Le Comte Ory.

She was also a member of The Opera Club from 2011 until its recent closure. This semi-professional vocal ensemble, directed by Sharolyn Kimmorley, performed regularly around Christchurch - offering a varied repertoire of opera, operetta and musical theatre. In addition, as a member of The Operatives, a small ensemble consisting of four vocalists and a pianist with a focus on the classical repertoire, she sang at a variety of events and venues around Waitaha Canterbury, from large public concerts to intimate private gatherings.

Outside of opera she has performed in a professional children’s theatre troupe and played major roles in several amateur dramatic musical productions. She was also a member of the CBS Choir (the resident choir of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament), the Jubilate Singers, and the Atlas Voices Ensemble, and she currently studies voice with Ravil Atlas.

Karyn studied music academically as part of her Bachelor of Arts degree (completing papers in harmony and counterpoint, and music history). She returned later as an adult to do extra music papers specialising in opera - including a Special Topic where she spent a semester writing a paper on Beethoven’s Fidelio.

Outside of her singing life, she is a mother to a delightful daughter who loves being on the stage as much as she does, and wife to a lovely man who patiently puts up with all the nights she is out at various rehearsals. She also has a PhD in psychology and has worked as a researcher/writer for a number of organisations and institutions including Canterbury University, Lincoln University and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

Currently, under the umbrella of her business Elizabeth Joy, she works as a social media manager and marketing consultant, graphic designer, and photographer (specialising in portraiture and branding photography), contracting to several local companies and organisations.