photo: Devon Fails
Loki Karuna* is a New York City and Minnesota-based musician, producer, activist, and administrator widely recognized as a "classical agitator." Currently serving as the Executive Director of the American Composers Forum and President of TrillWerks Media, Loki has been celebrated by many publications and institutions, including Current, naming him a "Black talent in public media that you may not know, but should."
In 2021, The New York Times named his podcast, TRILLOQUY, "required listening," and it remains a top-10 classical podcast globally. His work in reshaping arts ecosystems has earned him prestigious honors, including Musical America’s "Top 30 Arts Professionals of 2024," the Sphinx Organization’s MPower Artist Grant, and the Shuttleworth Foundation’s Social Change Award.
A central pillar of Loki's work is the intentional "decolonization" of classical music, which he explores in depth through his lectures and media. This philosophy informs his nationally syndicated programming, including The Sound of 13, Noteworthy, Gateways Radio, and The Sounds of Kwanzaa, which have reached millions of listeners through partners including WFMT-FM, WDAV-FM, KVNO-FM, and WUOT-FM.
Loki’s artistry remains rooted in active performance; he continues to work as a professional bassoonist, flutist, and narrator, with an extensive performance history including work with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Louisville Orchestra, and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. On-screen, he has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Glee, and Snapped: Killer Couples.
Loki is a sought-after speaker and equity trainer, with past collaborators including the Apollo Theater, the Kennedy Center, and the Sphinx Organization. His recent guest lecture partners include Yale University, Cornell, and Freie Universität Berlin.
Loki holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Memphis and a Master of Music from the University of Southern California. His written work is featured in the Future/Present, From Our Eyes and Ears, and Sound Systems anthologies, with upcoming publications exploring the value of dialogue within the TRILLOQUY archives. Beyond his executive leadership, Loki serves on the boards of Lyrica Baroque, the Lakes Area Music Festival, Decolonizing the Music Room, and the Cedar Cultural Center.
A practitioner of Nichiren Buddhism and a member of the Soka Gakkai International, Loki spends his free time studying Black history, enjoying plant-based cuisine, and enjoying life with his partner, Dell.
*Loki Karuna (formerly Garrett McQueen) was renamed in 2022 in a ceremony affirming his personal rejection of the inheritance of a colonial identity, aligning his activism, spiritual practice, and overall work.
"Loki" (short for Avalokiteśvara) references Buddhism's "Perceiver of the World's Sounds", whose mission was to respond to the needs of humanity by helping them achieve enlightenment. In broader cultural contexts, "Loki" is also representative of an embodiment of mischief, change, and disruption, realized through a career dedicated to challenging status quo in the arts.
Karuna, the Sanskrit word for "compassion", reflects a commitment to peace, human-centered engagement, and respect for all living beings.
In 2021, The New York Times named his podcast, TRILLOQUY, "required listening," and it remains a top-10 classical podcast globally. His work in reshaping arts ecosystems has earned him prestigious honors, including Musical America’s "Top 30 Arts Professionals of 2024," the Sphinx Organization’s MPower Artist Grant, and the Shuttleworth Foundation’s Social Change Award.
A central pillar of Loki's work is the intentional "decolonization" of classical music, which he explores in depth through his lectures and media. This philosophy informs his nationally syndicated programming, including The Sound of 13, Noteworthy, Gateways Radio, and The Sounds of Kwanzaa, which have reached millions of listeners through partners including WFMT-FM, WDAV-FM, KVNO-FM, and WUOT-FM.
Loki’s artistry remains rooted in active performance; he continues to work as a professional bassoonist, flutist, and narrator, with an extensive performance history including work with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Louisville Orchestra, and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. On-screen, he has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Glee, and Snapped: Killer Couples.
Loki is a sought-after speaker and equity trainer, with past collaborators including the Apollo Theater, the Kennedy Center, and the Sphinx Organization. His recent guest lecture partners include Yale University, Cornell, and Freie Universität Berlin.
Loki holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Memphis and a Master of Music from the University of Southern California. His written work is featured in the Future/Present, From Our Eyes and Ears, and Sound Systems anthologies, with upcoming publications exploring the value of dialogue within the TRILLOQUY archives. Beyond his executive leadership, Loki serves on the boards of Lyrica Baroque, the Lakes Area Music Festival, Decolonizing the Music Room, and the Cedar Cultural Center.
A practitioner of Nichiren Buddhism and a member of the Soka Gakkai International, Loki spends his free time studying Black history, enjoying plant-based cuisine, and enjoying life with his partner, Dell.
*Loki Karuna (formerly Garrett McQueen) was renamed in 2022 in a ceremony affirming his personal rejection of the inheritance of a colonial identity, aligning his activism, spiritual practice, and overall work.
"Loki" (short for Avalokiteśvara) references Buddhism's "Perceiver of the World's Sounds", whose mission was to respond to the needs of humanity by helping them achieve enlightenment. In broader cultural contexts, "Loki" is also representative of an embodiment of mischief, change, and disruption, realized through a career dedicated to challenging status quo in the arts.
Karuna, the Sanskrit word for "compassion", reflects a commitment to peace, human-centered engagement, and respect for all living beings.