Karen (Long) Nevins acquired her Bachelor of Music Education (Voice/Piano minor) and her Masters Degree in Choral Performance from Eastern Michigan University. In 1993, Karen began her public school teaching career in Grass Lake Public Schools, where she taught K-12 Vocal Music. In 1995, she took a position at Lincoln Consolidated Schools (Ypsilanti), beginning with three high school choirs and K-2 General Music. By 1996, Karen expanded the high school program to five choirs in four classes, to include entry level choirs: Women's Chorus, Men of Lincoln; and select auditioned choirs: Concert Choir Women, Lincoln Concert Choir and Split Dimensions (Women), and filling out her schedule with a Piano/Theory class. Each year since ince 1996, her choirs have been recognized with superior ratings at both District and State Festival levels. Her students have achieved positions in the Michigan School Vocal Musical Association's Regional, State and All-State Honors Choirs, and in M.E.N.C. National Honors Choirs.