Reframing Anger Summit Presentation
How I Decided Not to Be a Bully and Became a Jazz Vocalist
October 1, 2026 - October 30, 2026
About the Presentation
In every life, there come moments when we decide who we want to become. In my life, there was a pivotal moment when I decided that I did NOT want to become a bully, despite 8 years of being bullied myself. That powerful decision has affected me every day for the rest of my life. I became an award-winning jazz diva and lived out many dreams. Note: At the end, I share my original story song: “Suddenly Songbird”.
Hear Karen’s Presentation
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About Karen Lyu
Karen Lyu is an award-winning queer Korean-American Author, Holistic Voice Coach, Jazz Diva, Songwriter, and Actor. She is also a Keynote Speaker, Creative Clarity Coach, and Game Designer. For nearly three decades, she has been helping neurodivergent creatives to transform their voices so they can step into the spotlight to speak and sing with confidence and passion.
Since 1997, she has coached over 1,000 students in 17 countries — from absolute beginners to pro singers, SAG-AFTRA actors, contest competitors, and scholarship winners. Students call her “Karey Poppins” because she combines proven vocal science with compassion, mindset training, and a touch of magic to unlock breakthroughs that last.
Karen's education includes a BSS in Jazz Studies, Vocal Performance from Cornell College, as well as certifications for IMIA, CCHI, TNAOC, AVP, TESOL, EMF, LMA, SMA, LMAFT, New Science of Singing, and Expert Coaching. She is also the author of Singing in Tune: Solutions for 25 Pitch Problems, 2nd Edition, and the recipient of more than 20 honors.
Along the way, she has worn many creative hats — Executive Director of the West Bank School of Music, facilitator of the Female Musician Academy Songwriters Group, judge for Hmong Idol USA, Steppingstone Theatre teaching artist, choir director, and more. Each role has deepened her passion for helping voices rise and be heard.
As a performer, Karen is known for her playful, powerful, and unforgettable jazz performances — blending swing, scat, soul, and stories that touch the heart. My music draws from jazz, folk, Motown, funk, Broadway, Latin, and world influences, inspired by greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Janis Siegel, Sarah Vaughan, and Eva Cassidy. My voice has been featured on NPR, film, TV, radio, and all kinds of stages, including the Dakota and Fitzgerald Theatre.
Also, as a neurodivergent mental health advocate, Karen creates a safe, encouraging space for voices to heal, grow, and shine. Today, she works with students globally online — guiding them to discover the strongest, most free version of themselves.
https://www.holisticvoicecoach.com