Originally from Beaver, Pennsylvania, pianist Karen Roethlisberger Verm is currently on faculty at Carnegie-Mellon University, working as a vocal coach and accompanist. She also works as a freelance pianist with Pittsburgh Opera, Duquesne University, and Point Park University, among others.

In Pittsburgh, she has performed with the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Youth Symphony, Carnegie Mellon University Choirs, and Pittsburgh Opera, as a rehearsal pianist, in the pit orchestra, and with their Education Outreach Program. She has also worked with the Aspen Music Festival, Cincinnati Opera's Education Outreach Ensemble, Rocky Ridge Music Center, Rising Star Audition Works, Opera Theater of Lucca (Italy), and participated in the Grandin Festival, Bowdoin Music Festival, and Eastern Music Festival. This upcoming summer, she has been invited to accompany the Robert Page Festival Singers on their tour of Budapest and Vienna.

Karen is a recipient of numerous awards including first prize in the CCM Chamber Music Competition, Vocal Arts Resource Network Artsong Competition, Tuesday Musical Club of Pittsburgh Scholarship, NY State MTNA competition, and most recently the Pittsburgh Concert Society Auditions with her husband, baritone Craig Verm. Karen is a graduate of Syracuse University (BM, Piano Performance) and University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music (MM, Piano Performance, MM, Vocal Accompanying, and Artist Diploma, Opera Coaching).