Karen has been teaching a variety of instruments to students of all ages and aspirations since her early days at SUNY-Binghamton, New York, where she earned a BA in English Literature and an MA in Music History. She went on to earn an MM in Silver and Baroque Flute from the San Francisco Conservatory, and then furthered her studies in traverso (baroque flute) with Wilbert Hazelzet at the Royal Conservatory in Holland, and silver flute in Boston with Doriot Anthony Dwyer. Other influential teachers include Thomas Nyfenger, Charlie Banacos, and Jake Sherman.

Her teaching journey has taken her through San Francisco, Amsterdam, and finally to the Boston area in 1984, where she became Associate Director at the Brookline Music School. After 22 years in both teaching and administrative roles at BMS, Karen left the administration to focus on her teaching studio and began incorporating beginning jazz into her curriculum. 

As a professional musician, Karen’s performance career has focused on early music on original instruments (Baroque flute and recorder)  contemporary classical, and musical theater. She has premiered over fifteen new works as a flutist, including commissions especially written for her. Karen also teaches and performs on clarinet and saxophone in orchestras, theater pits, and classical chamber music concerts. She has been featured on live radio and television in Boston, San Francisco, and Amsterdam.

A diverse background in both performance and education has allowed Karen to offer a rich, multifaceted approach to music instruction, inspiring students across various instruments and genres.