Volkers, Karl (1940-) | University of Illinois Archives

Carl Otto Volkers (1940- ) was raised in Downers Grove, IL and began frequenting performances at the Chicago Lyric Opera as a teenager. He attended the University of Illinois, earning a bachelor's of liberal arts and science degree and master's degree in music, in 1962 and 1967 respectively. During his time as an undergraduate, Volkers won a Lyric Opera of Chicago competition for translating an opera aria in 1966. He also designed stage sets for U of I opera productions and reviewed touring opera shows.

As a masters student, Volkers studied with Lejaren Hiller, performing works for tape at concerts of the Experimental Music Studios. During this time, Volkers also began working for the School of Music as an audio engineer. He recorded concerts until 1976, when he moved to Vista, California. Here he opened a cactus farm called C and J Cactus Nursery with Jim Kampworth.

Frank Hughes, "Newest Sound of Music is Pretty Awful: Computers Pitch in at U of Illinois," Chicago Daily Tribune (January 22, 1963) 22.

"Students Win Music Awards," Daily Illini (October 25, 1966), 8.

Carl Volkers, "Correspondence," The Opera Quarterly 17, no. 3 (Summer 2001), 601.

Gordon Smith, "Beauty or Beastly?: With Cactus, It's in the Eye of the Beholder" LA Times (February 15, 1986).