Kathryn Tickell

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Kathryn Tickell (b. 1967) is an English player of the Northumbrian smallpipes and fiddle. She has recorded over a dozen albums, and toured widely.

Kathryn Tickell on stage at Lorient, Brittany in 2004

Kathryn Tickell took up the smallpipes aged nine, inspired by her family - especially her father Mike, who was heavily involved in the local traditional music scene - and by the music of an older generation of traditional musicians such as Willie Taylor, Will Atkinson, Joe Hutton, Richard Moscrop, Billy Pigg and Tom Hunter. By thirteen, Kathryn had won all the traditional open smallpipes competitions, and was also making a name as an accomplished player of the fiddle. Her family is from the North Tyne Valley area of Northumberland.

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, Boys of the Lough, and Sting.

In 1990 she formed the Kathryn Tickell Band. As of 2005, the band currently consists of:

Peter Tickell - Fiddle
Julian Sutton - Melodeon
Ian Stephenson - Guitar, acoustic bass guitar
Kathryn Tickell - Northumbrian Pipes and Fiddle

Two ex-members of north-eastern traditional music luminaries the High Level Ranters have appeared on her albums - Tom Gilfellon on "On Kielder Side" and Alistair Anderson on "Borderlands" (1986). The latter album included to a tribute to Wark football team.

Several other pipers have appeared on her albums - Troy Donockley on "Debatable Lands", Patrick Molard on "The Gathering" and Martyn Bennett on "Borderlands". "Debatable Lands" includes "Our Kate", a composition by Kathryn Tickell dedicated to Catherine Cookson. Jazz saxophonist Andy Sheppard wrote a piece with her in 2001. It was premiered at the opening of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge.

In 2002 Kathryn became director of "Folkestra North". It is a project to develop young talented musicians, aged between 14 and 19.