Karen completed a Bachelor of Education in Music at Melbourne University. Her main instrument is piano and she studied with Alexander Semetsky, Nehama Patkin and Glen Riddle. Karen has achieved recognition in a number of areas of the music industry as an accompanist, chamber musician, teacher, lecturer and administrator.
Beginning her professional career in 1985, Karen quickly became known as an excellent accompanist and has toured throughout Australia performing at events such as the inaugural International Clarinet and Saxophone conference in Sydney, Suzuki Conferences in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide and the Port Fairy Festival. She has also toured USA, UK and Europe teaching and accompanying for recitals, master classes and conferences.
Karen has shown a commitment to music education through her many years as a piano teacher and lecturer in pedagogy. Her philosophy of teaching is based on development of the whole child and focuses on posture, reading skills, tone production and practice techniques along with the belief that every child can learn. Karen’s students participate in assemblies,concerts, festivals, exams and workshops and explore a wide variety of repertoire for both solo and duet opportunities.
Teaching positions include Scotch College, Melbourne Grammar, Box Hill Institute and Deakin University. More recently she has become involved in bringing music and the arts to the wider community through the Casey Arts Participation Initiative (CAPI) resulting in the building of Bunjil Place, in her role as President of the South Eastern Arts Festival (SEAF) which is the continuation of the old Dandenong Eisteddfod and through the City of Casey Cultural Arts Advisory Committee.
In 2018 she moved from the city to a 12 acre property in Jumbunna and now spends more time with her partner, highland cows, goats, parrots, chickens, 2 maremmas and a peacock called Henry.
She still continues to teach, perform and run workshops for teachers and students and is currently in charge of the Schools Programme for Prom Recitals is the accompanist for the Bass Coast Chorale and is on the Board of local radio station South Coast FM
Details last updated: July 12, 2023
