Born in Pirna, Trekel-Burckhardt studied at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" with Rita Meinl-Weise.

[1] She made her stage debut in 1963 at the Komische Oper Berlin as Page in Salome by Richard Strauss in a production by Götz Friedrich.

[2] She also appeared in the title role of Bizet's Carmen, as Amneris in Verdi's Aida and Eboli in Don Carlo.

[2] In 1986, she appeared in the guest performance of the Berlin State Opera at the festival of Las Palmas as Venus in Wagner's Tannhäuser.

[2] In 1990, she appeared at the Berlin State Opera as Azucena in Verdi's Il trovatore, as Amneris and as the Composer in Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss.