Karen started playing the trombone at the age of 8, despite not being able to reach past 5th position! Her tutor, Peter Lockett, carried on coaching Karen into secondary school where she became a member of Wigan Youth Metropolitan Schools Band.

At Fred Longworth High School, Karen was a member of the brass quintet and was the Solo Trombone player with the School Band, who undertook a number of European tours. 

At age 15 Karen joined Flixton Band alongside other members of the Wigan Schools Band. Here she spent the next 9 years. In 2000 Karen gave up banding to concentrate on her studies (having already been kicked off the Salford banding course!)

In 2002, having finally chosen a career, she resumed her banding hobby playing with various local North West bands, most recently seeing a return to Flixton Band