Karen Gahagan has served as the UUCM Director of Music since 2000. She is a free-lance musician in the Boston area and has worked as musical director, assistant musical director, and pianist with various groups, including: The Boston Pops, The Huntington Theatre, Salem State College, Reagle Players, Emerson College, New England Light Opera (NELO), The New Opera and Musical Theatre Initiative (NOMTI), Turtle Lane Playhouse, Boston Conservatory of Music, Lyric First Stage, and Suffolk University.

When not involved in theatrical pursuits she enjoys returning to her classical roots and is an active vocal and instrumental accompanist. Some recent performance highlights include: performing as piano soloist with the Hillyer Festival Orchestra on the Esplanade; performing at Shakespeare and Company's new works festival, and participating in a premiere performance of local composer Robert Bradshaw's Sonata for Trumpet. Ms. Gahagan holds degrees from the Indiana University School of Music and Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science.