Hailing from Sydney, Karen is in her third year of training at ANAM with David Thomas. Karen completed a Bachelor of Music Performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney, where she studied with Francesco Celata and was a recipient of the University of Sydney Academic Merit Prize, Board of Governors’ Scholarship and the Corinna Taylor Memorial Prize.
Karen has enjoyed many chamber and orchestral opportunities. Highlights include performing as principal clarinet with the Järvi Academy Orchestra, playing 4 different clarinets in Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring for 13 players and playing basset horn in Mozart’s Gran Partita. Karen has also deeply enjoyed ANAM’s side-by-side programs with Tasmanian and West Australian Symphony Orchestras and the Auckland Philharmonia.
Karen has played in masterclasses with Christoffer Sundqvist, Harri Mäki, Tuulia Ylönen and Matthew Hunt. An avid collaborator, Karen is a founding member of Melbourne-based Quintet Evergreen and represented ANAM at the annual Arts8 Conference in 2025.
Karen is excited to commence 2026 with Schubert’s Octet in F Major and to come full circleby the year’s end with his Symphony No. 9 ‘The Great’. She also looks forward to exploring more multi-creative collaborations, as well as workshopping and premiering her ANAM Set piece with her composer.
When not playing the clarinet, Karen enjoys having a matcha, ice-skating, and cooking up a feast with friends.
FROM: NSW. Lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.
Karen is supported by ANAM Syndicate donors Di Jameson OAM and Frank Mercurio.
Photo by Pia Johnson