Karen Glen started out as a viola player and pianist reading French and Music at Southampton University and the University of Rouen. Studying in Paris she fell in love with the harpsichord and returned to pursue this, first with Virginia Pleasants, then at the Royal Academy of Music with Virginia Black and John Toll, and afterwards with Maggie Cole.

She works as a freelance continuo player with orchestras and choirs, both baroque and modern, in the UK and Europe and continues to do session work on piano, harpsichord and keyboards. She is also involved in music education; this includes private tuition, workshops and lecture recitals.

She is the harpsichordist with the Denner Ensemble and their first recording was released in October 2011.