Karen Ann Schuessler is a native of Lansing, Michigan. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Michigan State University and a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Among her teachers: Corliss Arnold and Robert Glasgow.

Since 1981, she has lived in London, Ontario, where she has conducted the Cantorion Cymraeg Canada (Canadian Welsh Choir) and its chamber choir, Côr Bach, and the Conservatory Choir of Men and Boys. She has been musical director for several shows mounted by London Musical Theatre, and has served as Director of Music at Centennial United Church where she established a still-thriving handbell program.

Currently, Karen is Director of Music at Wesley-Knox United Church, London, where she conducts the junior, youth, senior and handbell choirs, conducts the church orchestra, and
plays the organ. Karen is founder and conductor of the Karen Schuessler Singers, a thirty-eight-voice mixed choir well known in the London area for its high standards and varied repertoire, and its London and Detroit performances of Paul Winter and Paul Halley's Missa Gaia/Earth Mass. A Karen Schuessler Singers' performance of this work was featured at the 2005 National Convention of the Royal Canadian College of Organists. This work has been recorded and is available on CD.

For several years, Karen was part-time faculty at the University of Western Ontario and conductor of that university's award-winning women's choir, Les Choristes. Karen has presented many clinics and choral workshops including a major workshop on choral rehearsal techniques at the 2005 National Convention of the Royal Canadian College of Organists. She has performed
organ recitals in Canada, the United States and South America. She is a frequent solo recitalist and recital accompanist. She teaches voice, piano, organ, conducting and theory, and is frequently asked to adjudicate choir, voice, piano, handbells
and organ at music festivals.