Karen was born in Kingston, Jamaica, into a musical family, and developed a passion for teaching music across multiple genres. Her musical journey began with learning scales at an early age, and by the time her family moved to England when she was four, she started formal lessons. Under the guidance of her first teacher, Madame Olivier, who followed the Royal Schools of Music curriculum, Karen was introduced to works by composers such as Clementi, Mozart, and Bach.
At age nine, Karen's musical education continued with renowned teachers Ena Helps, Alice Carnegie, and Paulette Bellamy, all noted performers and educators. Their mentorship helped her achieve the Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (Performers' Diploma). A significant milestone in her musical career came when she earned a Gold Medal at the Jamaica Festival for a duet performance on the piano, which also marked the beginning of her teaching career.
Karen's musical path took her to Panama City for two years, where she studied with concert pianist Maritza Kitras, taught piano, and accompanied local choirs. At Harvard University, she served as the classical accompanist for the Kuumba Singers, where she learned to incorporate 7th, 9th, and 11th chords into melodies, an experience that greatly expanded her musical expression. She later co-directed a Junior Choir and taught piano in Florida, serving as an accompanist for the Nova Southeastern High School choir and supporting Junior Thespian and State Finals as both accompanist and vocal coach. Karen has performed with the Jamaica Chorale and other musical groups in South Florida while inspiring her private students to explore music as a form of communication. In her leisure time, Karen enjoys travel, reading, gardening, and attending performances, particularly Flamenco dancing.