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Karla Bauer

As founder and CEO of SHINE On! Music LLC, I have combined my two loves: creating and performing my original jazz music and giving access to high-quality art programs to youth from the underserved communities where I volunteer weekly and in the rural communities where I grew up. I travel to these targeted areas to bring the SHINE On! Music Workshop and Community Outreach Concert program to their communities.

SHINE On! Music Workshop - The students are taught how to develop their careers in the arts. But unlike any other art program, the primary goal of the workshop is to teach youth how to promote themselves successfully and 'safely' in a digital world and how to protect themselves from opportunists in the industry.

SHINE On! Community Outreach Concert - This concert program is an innovative way to engage youth while exposing them and the listening audience to a new genre of music (jazz) when they join Karla and her band onstage to sing some swinging songs for a grand concert finale!

Program History - Karla’s performances are centered around her mission to demonstrate how borders can be broken down when experiences are shared by developing the SHINE On! Music Workshop and Community Outreach Concert Program. For over ten years, she has educated hundreds of students on how to develop their careers in the arts and how to promote themselves successfully and "safely" in a digital world. Karla has built lasting relationships with many students and continues to mentor, support, and guide them as they follow their own artistic journey.

Karla has been on an extended tour throughout the underserved areas of Kansas City and in the rural communities presenting the SHINE On Music program and promoting her fifth studio jazz album released in March 2022.                                                                       

Participating Artists - Her jazz quartet is an eclectic instrumental music ensemble comprised of accomplished professional artists, music educators, and composers: Karla Bauer – vocals, Roger Wilder - piano, James Albright - upright bass, Stanton Kessler - trumpet, and Doug Auwarter – drums. Performing with Karla will be her amazing students for a grand concert finale!  

Awards

KCAIC State of Kansas Touring Roster Artist KCAIC Grant recipient

KC Inspiration Grant recipient

KC Jazz Ambassadors - nominated KC Favorite Vocalist

The X-Factor - Golden Ticket recipient

America’s Got Talent - advance to final round audition

IMEA - Jazz Song of the Year Award “Isn’t It a Pity”

KCCM - Song of the Year Award “Always”

Foster Film Festival - Music Video of the Year Award “Rest in Peace - Mary’s Lullaby”

Reverbnation - #1 on Holiday / Contemporary Christian Chart since 2010

Sister Cities of Kansas City - International Music Artist Exchange Program in Hannover, Germany

KCJazz Alive - “Musicians Assisting Musicians” presenter for five years

All About Jazz - featured artist “Everything Must Change” album

KC Jazz Magazine - featured artist “Everything Must Change” album

Kauffman Stadium Kansas City Royals - featured artist

T-Bones - featured artist National Anthem

KCLive KSHB-41 Morning Show - featured artist


Tags

"The Bauer voice is low and her delivery is convincing; her conviction is strong. Her articulation is true, and when she bends the "pity" in "Isn't it a Pity," you feel it, and then she builds a fabulous climax as well-twice-and then backs off for the close. This is a strong tribute to that particularly inspirational side of Nina Simone. The CD sets a nice mood, and when it gets into the second half of the program with the series of ballads I was fully engaged, and then they rock it out on "Chilly Winds Don't Blow," a super closer for Everything Must Change." Roger Atkinson, Jazz Ambassador Magazine

Nina Simone
piano and vocals
Miles Davis
trumpet

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

My King is Coming

SHINE On Music LLC
2022

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Hope is Alive -...

SHINE On Music LLC
2018

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Everything Must...

SHINE On Music LLC
2016

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Totally Gone

SHINE On Music LLC
2012

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Hope is Alive - A...

SHINE On Music LLC
2010

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When Your Eyes Open

SHINE On Music LLC
2007

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Here in the Dark

From: My King is Coming
By Karla Bauer

Wild is the Wind

From: Hope is Alive - Christmas...
By Karla Bauer

Isn't It a Pity

From: Everything Must Change
By Karla Bauer

Videos

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