Karen Wagner

Oboe

At this moment …

We might find Karen at the gym enjoying her nearly two year long passion of being tortured by her personal trainer. There is also a distinct possibility that she might be sitting at her reed table scraping away on some “crazy makers” (oboe reeds). If all else fails she could very well be at a coffee shop with a group of friends.

On the CD player …

“This varies from day to day. Right now you might find an artist named Andrew Bird who is not only a great song writer but also plays a mean violin and guitar. I’ve also been listening to Kristen Hersh who I believe has recently relocated to Portland. Whether it’s Stevie Wonder or Anthony Hamilton, I’ve been known to listen to a lot of R&B. I also just purchased the new Corrine Bailey Rae album, and it is really good. I tend to have an ongoing love affair with blue grass music. One of my favorite albums is Dolly Parton’s “The Grass is Blue,” and if you’ve never heard The Mammals, then check them out.”

In the kitchen …

“I recently acquired a KitchenAid mixer so I have been learning how to bake. It’s going pretty well considering it has not always been my forte. Things seem to be turning around in that area.”

On the music stand …

“A folder filled with woodwind quintet music for an upcoming Community Music Partnership recital in Estacada. There are also several orchestra concerts worth of music waiting for my attention.”

On the night stand …

“I would be lying if I said I was an avid reader and that I didn’t once in a while enjoy devouring a People magazine. However, on my night stand there are two books that I am going to get to, I swear: Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama and Julie & Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell.

Before you left …

Karen would make sure you took a moment to enjoy the view from her deck facing the Fremont Bridge, Mount St. Helens and overlooking downtown. “It’s not only gorgeous but a reminder to stop, breathe and take it all in—something that we all too often forget.”