BIOGRAPHY

For the past 28 years Karen has made a substantial part of her livelihood in the wedding and tourism industry.

 

Karen or one of the covers or ceilidh/ cover bands that she is involved with is available for hire for weddings, birthday parties, corporate events, festivals, funerals and school visits  in fact any sort of celebration!

 

Based in Tayside area of Scotland however can travel far and wide.

 

As a professional musician, Karen has entertained tourists in venues ranging from small venues in St Andrews during the St Andrews week festival to corporate events and prestigious hotels such as Gleneagles, Fairmont Hotel and the old Course St Andrews.

 

Previous engagements Karen has performed at include events such as the launch of the National Cultural Strategy, Fife Tourist board showcases, Celtic Connections and local parties and weddings through out Scotland.

 

Karen performs with numerous professional bands and ensembles both at home and abroad including The Broon Orchestra, The Tweed Jakies, Nifty Shades of Grey,  The Mad Parrots, The Orwell Ceilidh Band,  Sporran Again and Ceilidh Minougue to name just a few. Karen also has a few duo projects with Guitar player and singer Lindsay Duncan, Accordion/piano player Alan Small and Piper Kyle Howie.

 

Karens music has seen her travelling the world,  representing Scotland in New Zealand, Ireland,  Romania, Sardinia, Germany, Poland, South Korea, Spain, France, Denmark and Belgium presenting an image of a country rich in traditional culture but forward looking and exciting.

 

Karen also specialises in working with children with Special Needs after many years of working closely with Kingspark school in Dundee. Through YMI funding Karen has been going into Bookbug Sessions in libraries to introduce live instrumental music to babies and toddlers, and spent a few years working on a YMI project in various primary schools in Dundee. In demand as a music tutor, teaching at the Wighton Heritage centre in Dundee for 20 years and had the privilege of being asked by Simon Thoumire and Hands up for Trad for coordinating a group of her younger players linking in with other local youth groups to arrange two sets for Na Trad Awards in Dundee and playing at the dinner event for hall of fame inductees. Over the years some of Karens pupilshvae gone on to create their own bands and groups to play at events and the workshops help feed pupils into Strathspey and Reel Orchestras and other bands to progress further with their music. Karen also teaches privately and at various festivals and events all over Scotland.

 

As an Events Coordinator Karen has helped to coordinate and run various festivals and events including, Music while you Munch at the Rothes Halls in Glenrothes, Live Music at the Stag in Forfar, StAndrews Week Festival in stAndrews, Fest n Furious in Dundee, arranging musicians and pipe bands to play at events such as Na Trads Awards, concerts  and helping Brides and their families to plan and organise not just music, but other parts of their  party plans.