Karen M. Cook

Karen M. Cook is an Assistant Professor of Music History at the Hartt School, University of Hartford, specializing in historical and contemporary musical practices.

Her academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Musicology from Duke University (2012) with Certificate in Medieval & Renaissance Studies
• Master of Music in Music Theory Pedagogy and Musicology from Peabody Conservatory
• Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance and Religion from Gettysburg College

Professor Cook's research centers on medieval and Renaissance music theory and performance traditions, with significant extensions into modern contexts. She investigates music's role in identity formation across television, film, and video games, while critically analyzing neo-medievalist revivals in contemporary culture. This dual focus bridges historical scholarship with current media studies, revealing continuities between pre-modern musical practices and 21st-century cultural production.