About

Dr. Karisa Antonio is a listener, a learner, and a leader with significant experience in connective strategy, program design, and impact evaluation. People and relationships are at the center of her work. Karisa shapes internal cultures to focus on well-being, and she builds respectful, collaborative external partnerships.

As Senior Director of Social Innovation and Learning at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO), Karisa works with her colleagues to live out a deep commitment to equity. Karisa has been instrumental in the development of Detroit Strategy, an engagement process that drives the DSO’s investment in the growth and well-being of the city and people of Detroit. Detroit Strategy efforts have forged over 300 local partnerships and have engaged nearly 100,000 people in just three years. Committed to a more adaptive, responsive world of music education, Karisa works with students to co-design Senza, a professional development program for and with youth from communities underrepresented in classical music. In addition to designing new programs grounded in equitable practices, Karisa conducts detailed evaluation of program quality and impact. She creates professional development and training opportunities for staff, students, and partners of the DSO.

Karisa was the founding Director of Arts and Culture at Lantern Community Services, a supportive housing and homeless shelter provider in New York City. During her six years at Lantern, she established arts, culture, and movement programs for over 2,000 clients in 17 buildings. Her department focused on celebrating the artistry and resilience of individuals and families who had experienced homelessness, youth aging out of the foster care system, and individuals with chronic mental and physical health conditions, including those with substance use disorders. At Lantern, she received the 2020 Champion of Collaboration Award.

Prior to her time at Lantern, Karisa served as Assistant Director, RealArts and Education, at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House. In this position, she programmed and managed over 70 weekly community arts and education programs for a membership of 3,000 New Yorkers. She got her start in urban program design and implementation while working for the New York City Parks Department where she collaborated in the rollout of a new citywide wellness program, Shape Up NYC, a partnership with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. 

Karisa received her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from Stony Brook University, her master’s degree from Yale University, and her bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University. She holds an executive Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from Baruch College and is certified in Results-Based Accountability™. Karisa has been a New York Community Trust Leadership Fellow, a New York Foundation for the Arts Emerging Leader Fellow, and a Carnegie Hall Choral Fellow. She was a 2019 Stony Brook University 40 Under 40 honoree, recognized for her work in civil service and activism. She has served on the Steering Committee of the Detroit Residents First Fund, and is currently a board member for COTS Detroit, an organization that serves families facing housing loss and insecurity. 

Based on the breadth of knowledge acquired over the course of her career, Karisa has designed and presented a broad range of courses and workshops, including program design, career development, wellness, and music. She has worked extensively with early childhood, elementary, pre-college, college, and older adult students. Passionate about creating environments that support innovative and equitable practices, Karisa has presented for the Americans for the Arts National Convention, Bowling Green State University, Wayne State University, the University of Michigan, the Supportive Housing Network of New York Annual Conference, Valparaiso University, Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance Technical Assistance Institute, Janian Medical-Project for Psychiatric Outreach to the Homeless-Grand Rounds, the Association of Vocational Rehabilitation in Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, the National Health Care for the Homeless Annual Conference, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and many others.

An oboist with a focus on contemporary and chamber works, Karisa can be heard on Cantaloupe, Naxos, EMF, Last Things, Albany, and Carrier record labels, most notably John Luther Adams’ Sila: the Breath of the World, which was nominated for a 2023 GRAMMY Award. Since 2010, Karisa has played in the Wet Ink Large Ensemble; Wet Ink was named the “Best Classical Music Ensemble of 2018” by the New York Times. Additional awards include those at the Fischoff, Coleman, Chamber Music Yellow Springs, and Chesapeake chamber music competitions. Karisa has been a featured soloist at the New York City Electronic Music Festival and the International Computer Music Conference.

Contact Karisa at karisa antonio at gmail dot com.