Karen Spurney is a Los Angeles-based pianist, music and piano teacher. Studying classical piano with Kevin Fitz-Gerald at the University of Southern California, she was a Dean's Scholar and Resident Honors Student. She went on to win the CAPMT and MTAC Solo Competitions and was the USC Thornton Wind Ensemble’s pianist. Karen plays at St. Martin of Tours Church where she was the parish school's music director from 2008 to 2013. She currently teaches classroom music at The John Thomas Dye School and also enjoys teaching her private studio of piano students. 

She frequently performs with Valerie Stern in two piano or two pianist settings. They specialize in works by American Composers including: Gershwin, Copland, and Bolcom. 

Karen's passion is helping make music literacy accessible to all. Her workbook, NOTEBUSTERS, gives ample practice to allow students to master note-reading in just 1 minute a day. 

Photographs by Carli Jo