Playing at top Vancouver venues and high profile events, Karla Sleightholme is one of Vancouver's few female saxophone players. Her exquisite sound captures the subtleties of a voice and creates beautiful dulcet tones.
Raised in the UK and Vancouver, Karla has been exposed to music all her life. Her great-grandfather was a renowned brass band conductor in the UK, her mother is well known in the music world both provincially and nationally, and all her siblings are musicians in their own right. Karla started her first group with her siblings when she was in high school as a jazz combo playing at local restaurants and art showings in the Fraser Valley.
In her university days, Karla was lead alto chair in the UVic Jazz Orchestra and the UBC Jazz Band. Karla graduated from The University of Victoria with a Bachelor in Music in 2008, and now resides in downtown Vancouver.
Karla not only loves playing music, she also enjoys a private teaching studio, arranges her own compositions, and writes and directs children’s musicals. Her latest musical, We Are Family to Romeo & Juliet, was debuted at The Woodward's SFU building in the David Mowafaghian Cinema in December. Karla has performed at venues such as The Vancouver Art Gallery, The Vancouver Rowing Club, Holt Renfrew, South Granville and Kerrisdale community events, Shangri-La Hotel, Rosewood Georgia Hotel, Four Seasons Hotel, Terminal City Club, Nikki Beach at Cabo San Lucas, Passion Club and Lounge; Northview Golf Course, Stanley Park's Lumberman's Arch, Subeez Restaurant, Sol Sun Belt Cookery, Fan Club, Killjoy, and The Ticket to name a few.
Karla's passion extends from jazz and soul to that of electronic music. Currently, Karla is taking Vancouver by storm jazzing up new restaurants, clubs, galas and events alongside world renowned DJ's. Karla has joined forces with vocalist/keyboardist and international recording artist, Sharon Bryson. They bring vancouver restaurants, lounges and events to life with the sound of soul, jazz, r&b, hip-hop and pop. The duo also perform in a seven piece band known as Soul 2 Life, led by Sharon Bryson. Karla also plays with the duo, Rala, a saxophone and bass guitar combo backed by synthesizer, who play their own compositions and unique renditions of popular music.
