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Karen is a Wiradjuri and Irish background educator, singer and composer. She worked in the University of Wollongong ‘s Theatre and Music programs for over a decade and now works in the Music Theatre Program at Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Karen has been involved in developing music programs for First Nations’ students in High Schools in NSW. She has also been coordinating a project connecting Music Theatre students with Yuin cultural leaders as part of a project to decolonise the Music Theatre curriculum.
As part of Deborah Cheetham’s company Short Black Opera (with which she has had a 15 year connection) Karen has worked with young members and potential members of the Dhungala Children’s Choir . She has also been part of a community program on Dharawal country for First Nation’s girls in High Schools connecting to language, culture and song.
Karen has a particular interest in the barriers to entry for First Nations and working-class students to Performing Arts Programs in Tertiary Institutions in Australia and of the representation of First Nation Stories in Music Theatre in Australia.
Karen’s first composed work was performed as part of the vocal work Creation (Deborah Kelly and Lex Lindsay) as part of the All About Women Festival (Sydney Opera House February 2022,) New Annual Festival (October 2023) World Pride (2023) and Inner West Edge Festival (2024).
Karen is currently developing a voice/movement/sound /text work responding to the Coal Mining history on Wadi Wadi country where she lives. It is a collaboration with Ben Caudora (music producer and artist), Linda Luke (Bodyweather) and Lana Filles (Shopfront Theatre) will be shown in development stage in July 2024 for Merrigong Theatre. She is also working with Kit Spencer on a work for Sydney Fringe exploring the transgender singing voice and Castrati repertoire.
She has performed over the last 30 years works by Australian composers Andree Greenwell, Sally Whitwell, Richard Vella, Martin Wesley Smith, Rosalind Page, Stephen Adams Australian Dance Theatre, Opera Australia and the Victorian State Opera. She has recorded and performed live for the ABC and a range of Festivals.