Musicology and Community Musician Karen Cyrus joins Laurier’s Faculty of Music.

June 21, 2022

It is with great pleasure that the Faculty of Music announces the appointment of Karen Cyrus to the role of Assistant Professor beginning July 1, 2022.

Karen brings her extensive experience and research in community music practices, Pan-African children's repertoire, and social justice in music education to enhance and inform our community of musicians.

A graduate of York University, Karen holds a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology, Master of Arts in Music, and a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics. Her Bachelor of Arts in Language, Literature and the Social Sciences was completed at the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica and she holds a Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music in piano.

“Karen Cyrus is a star," says Dean Johnston Turner. "What an incredible educator, musician, and researcher. She is thoughtful while being action-oriented, innovative in her approach to pedagogy and practice, and dedicated to excellence in the context of social justice and music."

At the heart of Karen’s musical and academic experience is an emphasis on the past, present and future influence and representation of Black musicians, researchers, and music educators. Her education, research, extensive publications, and in-demand workshops on these themes will significantly enrich the Faculty of Music.

Most recently Cyrus presented as part of Laurier’s Mel Brown Festival and Symposium during the roundtable “Let’s Talk about Systemic Injustices in Music Education and Ways Forward”. She was also a successful co-applicant of a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Connection Grant awarded to the 2022 Mel Brown Festival and Symposium.

“I look forward to a collaborative journey of teaching and learning with students at Laurier,” says  Cyrus. “I hope my experience in community music, curriculum development for Afrodiasporic music programs, and social justice in music education will find new connections in the Waterloo region.”

Please join us in welcoming Karen Cyrus to the Faculty of Music!