Kathryn Tickell is the foremost exponent of the Northumbrian pipes; a composer, performer, educator and successful recording artist with many releases to her name, whose work is deeply rooted in the landscape and people of Northumbria.
Kathryn’s extraordinary career began with learning tunes from old shepherd friends and family, and evolved to traverse genres from jazz and global music to large-scale orchestral works. Exploring and cultivating her bountiful native heritage of Northumberland have been a constant throughout.
Kathryn has released 19 albums, releasing her first at the age of 16. Long-admired by musicians and collaborators such as Jacob Collier, Sting and The Penguin Café Orchestra, Kathryn works across many genres, creating material that is contemporary and exciting.
Kathryn has been awarded the OBE, and also the Queen’s Medal for Music for her outstanding contribution to British music; the first non-classical recipient of this award. She has twice won the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Musician of the Year.
“No one has evoked the landscape and traditions of Northumbria more affectingly than Kathryn Tickell; a champion of the Northumbrian pipes, she is steeped in the music and mythology of the north-east.” The Observer.
“An inspirational performer matching digital dexterity with sheer musicality and creativity.” Kampala Sun.
Kathryn currently tours with her band The Darkening, named after the Northumbrian word for twilight. She has gathered stellar musicians from Northumberland, Scotland and England to invoke the sounds of Ancient Northumbria.
“the band has stretched, bent, and flexed Northumbrian traditional tunes and sounds into an elastic and richly invigorating listening experience… visceral, thrilling, inspirational, and downright absorbing, with an uncanny ability to evoke history whilst keeping the sound resiliently fresh and modern.” KLOF mag.
“… a euphoric experience… edgy, dark dance-based adventures, thoughtful mystical evocations, precise virtuoso instrumental wizardry and magical, haunting soundscapes” Fatea.
Kathryn’s music makes a profound connection with audiences. She was the first folk artist to appear at the BBC Proms as a commissioned composer, curator and performer. Her acclaimed music-theatre show Northumbrian Voices toured to over 50 venues and was described by writer David Almond as “beautiful and important work.” Richard Morrison of The Times wrote: “I can’t remember feeling so exhilarated by such a match of music and landscape.” Her classical-folk quartet The Side, “an elegant, beautifully-played fusion” (The Guardian) toured extensively in the UK and Europe, including rapturously received performances at Berliner Philharmoniker, Tønder Festival Denmark and Union Chapel London. Kathryn has composed music for Royal Northern Sinfonia, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the National Youth Orchestra among others. She was a featured soloist in Jon Lord’s ‘Durham Concerto’
Kathryn has always been keen to support the next generation of musicians and composers. Her ‘Young Musicians Fund’ (managed by the Community Foundation) was set up to increase access to music for young people in north-east England. It has raised over £100,000 to date.
Kathryn is also a regular presenter for BBC Radio 3’s ‘Music Planet’.
