Kathryn Davidson is a Northumbrian singer, whistle player, choir leader, and teacher who currently lives in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. At 16 Kathryn heard a group of amazing young musicians at her school as part of the Folkworks Hot Shoots tour. That summer she attended the Folkworks Youth Summer School and that led to a complete change of life plan! She went on to graduate from the Folk and Traditional Music Degree at Newcastle University and it was during her final year that she took a three day a week placement at Sage Gateshead studying with Gilly Love and the Silver Programme to understand and learn the trade of a choir leader. Once graduated Kathryn began working for Sage Gateshead leading Silver Programme classes, Adult Programme classes, and schools work.
In 2009 Kathryn became Folk Programme Leader for Sage Gateshead, taking responsibility for the creative content and quality of the folk music education programme. Working alongside well known, and well loved, performers such as Kathryn Tickell, Ian Lowthian, Nancy Kerr, Ian Stephenson, Bella Hardy, and Sam Sweeney. Kathryn re-raised the profile of the Folkworks Summer Schools and grew the Folkworks Tuesday evening class programme from three classes to 28! She left Sage Gateshead in 2016 to pursue a freelance path.
In 2012 Kathryn published two books with Faber Music entitled The Language of Folk. Kathryn also created the folk song element of the Trinity College singing syllabus all of which can be found in The Language of Folk books. This year also saw the release of her debut album, The Lass Will Not Learn, and the first of three trips to Sao Paulo for The British Council. These trips were to look at broad music education and staff development working alongside Guri Santa Marcelina and colleagues from Sage Gateshead.
Kathryn currently leads three community choirs including Tynedale Community Choir where she arranges most of the repertoire herself.
Kathryn Davidson 