Karen Hesley

Tremble Clefs began with Karen Hesley’s belief in the power of voice, connection, and care — and grew into the community it is today.

Originally from New York, with deep family ties along the East Coast, Karen values the strong bonds in her life, traveling to visit family and cherishing the time they share.

Her professional path has been grounded in both the science and humanity of communication. A licensed speech-language pathologist, Karen holds master’s degrees in linguistics and communication disorders — a foundation that shaped her work as a clinician and educator focused on helping people build strong, clear voices and the confidence to be heard.

Karen founded Tremble Clefs in 1994 in Arizona while working as a licensed speech-language pathologist at Scottsdale Memorial Hospital. What began as an innovative application of voice therapy to group singing quickly revealed the power of music to strengthen not only vocal muscles, but confidence and connection.

In 2001, Karen and her family made their home in San Diego County. She brought Tremble Clefs with her, planting the program in a new community and steadily growing it across the region. Over time, she served as Music Director, Executive Director, and President of the Board of Directors, shaping the organization into the vibrant, mission-driven community it is today.

Music and community remain central to Karen’s life. She is a passionate supporter of the San Diego Women’s Chorus and stays deeply engaged in the cultural life of the community she loves, finding inspiration in the people and voices that bring it to life.

Though retired from daily leadership, Karen’s presence remains deeply felt throughout the Tremble Clefs community. She is known for handwritten thank-you notes, thoughtful phone calls, and delivering baked goods to friends she has nurtured relationships with over the years — gestures that reflect her enduring gratitude for the volunteers, donors, and friends who have helped bring her vision to life.

Today, she offers guidance when needed and remains a warm, familiar presence at many of our fundraising events — a gentle reminder of where we began and the example she continues to set.

So many of us remain deeply grateful for Karen’s vision and the community it became — a place where joy, strength, and connection continue to grow.