Karen Burke is the creator of Canada's first post-secondary gospel music curriculum at York University, where she has taught since 2005 and founder of the York University Gospel Choir. She is also the co-founder and artistic director of the Juno Award-winning Toronto Mass Choir, one of Canada's most celebrated gospel ensembles. Her contributions to music education and cultural leadership have been recognized with the York University President's Research Impact Award and the prestigious Harry Jerome Award, while her creative work includes more than 50 songs that have been recorded or published.

As an educator, Karen has spent her career building bridges between gospel tradition, academic music, and community music-making. She has led hundreds of workshops, clinics, residencies, keynote presentations, and conducting masterclasses for schools, universities, churches, festivals, and arts organizations across Canada and internationally. Her approach combines musical excellence with historical and cultural context, empowering educators, conductors, singers, and organizations to engage with gospel music thoughtfully, respectfully, and confidently.

In addition to her work at York University, Karen founded G.I.V.E. (Gospel Inter-Varsity Explosion), Canada's annual university gospel choir festival, and established the City Youth Gospel Project, introducing high school students across the Greater Toronto Area to the power and tradition of gospel music. Alongside her husband, Oswald Burke, she co-owns Burke Music Inc., a music publishing and production company supporting workshops, consulting, publishing, and educational initiatives.

A multi-generational Black Canadian musician, educator, and researcher, Karen brings a perspective that is both deeply rooted in tradition and uniquely Canadian. Whether speaking from the concert stage, the classroom, the rehearsal hall, or the conference podium, her mission remains the same: to open the door to gospel music, helping people not only perform it, but understand its history, honour its cultural significance, and experience its power to build stronger leaders, stronger communities, and lasting human connection.