FolkByTheOak2009-5

FOLK BY THE OAK, HATFIELD HOUSE, HERTFORDSHIRE

Sunday, 26th July, 2009

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KATHRYN TICKELL BAND

"Having only recently discovered this brilliant musician, I was so delighted to discover that Kathryn Tickell was to perform at Folk By The Oak. She is an exceptionally gifted musician, a true virtuoso and her music is both inspirational an uplifting."

What has been said about Kathryn Tickell....

Kathryn Tickell (born 8 June 1967) is an English player of the Northumbrian smallpipes and fiddle. She took up the smallpipes aged nine, inspired by her family—especially her father Mike, who was heavily involved in the local traditional music scene. By thirteen, Kathryn had won all the traditional open smallpipes competitions. Her first album, On Kielder Side, was released in 1984. In the same year she was named the official piper for the Lord Mayor of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Kathryn turned professional in 1986. She has since toured Europe regularly and recorded with internationally-renowned performers like The Chieftains, The Boys of the Lough and Sting.

In 1990 she formed the Kathryn Tickell Band. In 2002 Kathryn became director of "Folkestra North". It is a project to develop young talented musicians, aged between 14 and 19. Kathryn was awarded the prestigious Queen's Medal For Music at a ceremony on 26 January, 2009, only the fourth recipient of this award. Approved by the Queen, this annual award is presented to an individual (or group of musicians) who is judged to have had a major influence on the musical life of the nation. Winner of BBC Radio 2 Folk Award’s Musician of the Year in 2005, Kathryn was the subject of a Channel 5 television documentary ‘Kathryn Tickell’s Northumbria’ and has made numerous TV and radio appearances. In July 2007, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by University of Northumbria for her outstanding and inspirational achievements.