Teaching Journey
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My name is Karina Mandock Saldivar, and I’m an Atlanta based voice teacher and singer. As a musician, I believe that a good performer is able to freely express their most authentic self on stage, and I strive to help young musicians find their artistic voice. Music is for everyone to enjoy, no matter where you’re from, how old you are, or where you are in your music journey. My past experiences as a singer, student, and teacher have shaped my views on musicianship and the teaching process, and I strive to pass these ideals to all of my students.
I’ve been teaching voice since 2021, officially launching MSKarina Voice and Piano LLC in 2026. I have worked with students of ages 6 to 20+ working with students at all different skill levels and musical backgrounds. I have also worked with students with different types of disabilities that affect singing. I tailor my teaching style to each student, and adjust as needed.
My experience working with schools like The Lovett School and Lessons in Your Home prepared me to work with students in various age groups, ranging from elementary school to high school. I learned that the relationship between student and teacher matters just as much, if not more than the actual lesson. My goal for my students is to develop a love of music, even if they don’t pursue it as a career.
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About Me
International Experience
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When I was in college, I became very interested in the international student experience. I started studying voice in college at Georgia State University, but earned my B.S. at The Georgia Institute of Technology in Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies as well as a music minor. While there I strengthened my skills in Spanish, and learned the basics of Korean, Italian, and German. Later, I completed my M.M. in Vocal Pedagogy at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee in 2022.
While at Georgia Tech I worked with the Language Institute where I interacted and helped students from different countries including Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Panama. At the Boston Conservatory I was an English tutor working with mostly Chinese students, and also taught “Voice for Non-Majors” where I taught students from South Korea and Taiwan. In my undergrad years, I decided to study abroad in Seoul, South Korea as well as Granada, Spain. In an attempt to integrate myself, I sang in those countries as part of local choirs. As an international student I realized integration into a foreign country was no easy feat and I became interested in those experiences and what they might look like in the voice studio. For the 2022 Vocal Pedagogy Workshop at Boston Conservatory I presented my lecture “Crossing Boundaries: Working with ELL Students in the Voice Studio”.
​Non-Profit Work
My passion for accessibility doesn't stop at teaching and extends into my performances.
I’ve been active with Music as Medicine as their Georgia Regional Chair since 2023. Music as Medicine in a non-profit company started in Texas that brings music to the community. It was started by high school students, now in college, and I've been working with them to bring Music as Medicine to Atlanta. I've been recruiting volunteers, calling hospitals, senior care facilities, and hospice centers to offer our services. Volunteers and I play for different facilities every month. Eventually I'd like to incorporate educational services in the Atlanta branch as well, but for now we solely perform for those who don't have access to live music to brighten their day.
Professional Singing
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​As a singer, I’ve been a church musician at various churches since 2024. I debuted with Capitol City Opera singing as Violetta in their condensed production of La Traviata in 2025 and also debuted with The Atlanta Opera the same year in the 96 Hour Opera Festival. At the 96 Hour Opera Festival I worked on a new work, TransBliss ™ by Rachel and Rebecca Gray which won second in the 96 Hour Competition. In 2026 I sang with Capitol City Opera again, this time as Maria in their condensed production of West Side Story. In 2026 I also sang in my first mainstage production with the Atlanta Opera Chorus in Turandot.