Karen Kyriakou’s work as an educator, author, and composer/arranger is underpinned by her passion for music’s unique capacity to unite and inspire. She works broadly in the area of music education, with students from kindergarten to tertiary level. Karen holds a Bachelor of Music Education, a Masters of Music Education and is a current PhD student at Monash University.
Karen is renowned for her ever-innovative approach to music education. She is in demand as a presenter and workshop facilitator with many of Australia’s leading arts organisations and delivers professional learning seminars to teachers of all levels of skill and experience. In 2022 she was awarded into the Association of Music Educators (aMuse) Hall of Fame for her contribution to music education for students with disability.
As a long-time Artist in Residence in schools for children with additional needs, Karen was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2012 to further her studies in the area of Music and the Deaf. She has developed a ‘teaching toolbox’ for making music inclusive for students with disabilities, working with them to perform and create music.
A staunch advocate of lifelong learning, Karen regularly presents at industry conferences, championing creative music making and inclusive music education.
Photo by Pia Johnson