Karla Mundy, Director | Harmony Mountain Singers
Karla Mundy grew up outside Calgary, Alberta and from a young age, was extremely passionate about piano, singing and dancing. She studied piano from the age of seven onwards, sang at all times and was introduced to many styles of music through her study of jazz, modern, flamenco, african and latin dance as a teenager.
Karla completed her Bachelor’s of Music degree in Classical Piano Performance from Bishops University in Quebec. While focusing on piano studies, she began to explore singing, first with a 8 piece soul band and later singing back-up vocals with Canadian Singer/Songwriter David Francey. Through singing with David Francey, Karla was introduced to the rich vocal world of traditional folk roots music.
After completing her degree, Karla moved to Vancouver and was a founding member of the Canadian Roots Quintet - Cleia (Andy Hillhouse, Keona Hammond, Neil Hammond and Norah Rendell). She was soon asked to join the Celtic/Funk group Mad Pudding and performed for four years with both groups as a vocalist and accordionist.

Karla joined the Universal Gospel Choir and traveled to Cuba on several occasions to study singing and dancing. With her growing love of harmony singing and world music, Karla helped to form ‘The Shirleys’ in 2004- an inspiring and powerful all-female acapella septet.
In 2008, Karla also joined forces with Brian Tate and Dawn Pemberton to form an acapella vocal trio - TriVo.
Over the next years, while attending summer music festivals throughout Washington, New York and Virginia, Karla was introduced to American Old-Time music. She picked up the clawhammer banjo and soon formed an Old-Timey roots quartet called Plough.
After six years of teaching piano, accompanying violinists and leading singing and rhythm classes, Karla was invited to lead the ‘Harmony Mountain Singers’ A choir started by the multi-talented Dale Rasmussen in the North Shore. She also inherited one of Dale’s other choirs - Home Cookin’ and began her own smaller harmony singing groups at her own home.
Karla has recorded on 8 CDs, has performed throughout BC and Alberta, the Pacific Northwest, Ontario and Quebec and has been featured regularly on CBC. She currently keeps herself busy with directing three choirs, Performing with ‘The Shirleys’ ‘Plough’ and ‘TriVo’, completing a Conducting Certificate from Capilano University, teaching piano privately, accompanying the Vancouver Bach Youth Choir, under the direction of Paula Kremer, accompanying violin recitals and offering harmony singing workshops throughout the year.