Karen co-founded and remains the Artistic Director of the Juno award-winning Toronto Mass Choir, a Gospel choir that has been touring and recording since 1988. Burke has written and arranged many of the songs on their 10 albums and has led the choir on tours in several countries including Poland, Romania, Italy and most recently, the Dominican Republic. 

In 2005, Karen Burke created the York University Gospel Choir upon joining as full-time faculty in their music department. York’s largest performing music ensemble is a course for credit open to any undergraduate at York. Performing annually five times on campus and several times a year off campus, YUGC is supported by fellow course director, Corey Butler who leads a 5-piece rhythm section which supports the choir at all of their on-campus performances.