Karen originally trained as a violinist at the Royal Academy of Music before spending five years in Boston, USA studying with soloist, Yuri Mazurkevich.

She has worked extensively across the classical music business, recording and performing with many orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia, National Symphony Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony, Royal Ballet Sinfonia, English National Opera, English National Ballet, London Mozart Players, Boston Ballet and New York City Ballet.

However, some of her most treasured memories are from her days recording and performing with punk/folk bands George Norway and the Jazz, and Laxative of Thoughts, alongside backing major commercial artists such as Sting, Goldfrapp, Take That, Dame Shirley Bassey and Kanye West. Her onscreen appearances include THE DEATH OF STALIN, as the orchestra leader.

She has recently joined the  “MASTER WORKERS” chamber ensemble, which takes on challenging repertoire and aims to bring classical and light music to new audiences, performing regularly in unusual and delightfully laid back venues, such as the cabaret space at the Two Brewers pub in Clapham.

Karen has been an active and career-long member of the Musicians’ Union, working for a decade as an elected member of the Freelance Orchestral and London Regional Committees and also as a Roving Steward, helping to safeguard fellow musicians at a time when the Arts are suffering through an increasingly politically hostile era. She is also a member of the Royal Society of Musicians.