Katie Elliott

Classically trained as a flautist and pianist, Katie has been writing and performing music since an early age. After studying at Dartington College of Arts and Newnham College, Cambridge, where she learned to love Balinese gamelan music (the former) and 20th Century Polish fiction (the latter), she began writing children's music books for Usborne Publishing and Boosey & Hawkes. Unsurprisingly though, devising ways of making music theory memorable using a limited repertoire of cartoon animals soon took its toll and, before she knew it, she had enrolled in a jazz workshop. From there it was a small step to forming her own band (of which there have been many) and inveigling her way into other people's when they weren't looking. This led to extensive gigging with a number of projects and theatre shows in a variety of styles on flute, piano and, occasionally, drums. In 2004 she co-founded Under the Edge Jazz Club and promoted several seasons of top class gigs featuring nationally and internationally renowned jazz artists. She also set up regular Jazz Cafe nights, specifically designed to bring jazz and new improvised music to a wider audience. In 2009 she wrote and recorded her first album, 'Walking the Edge', which features 13 compositions for solo piano. In addition to her work as a composer and performer, Katie has extensive experience of music outreach work. She has run and assisted on projects for London-based Children's Music Workshop, working with hundreds of children from east London primary schools to write and perform their own music. From 2005-8 she created and ran an innovative music project for 10-18 year olds called 'The Groove Project' which led to the creation of three full-length CDs of completely new music, many tracks arranged for 35 piece ensemble. She has also worked frequently with the elderly, particularly those with dementia, both through the Yehudi Menuhin founded music charity 'Live Music Now' and independently. Katie is an active and committed member of her small rural community in Gloucestershire, running creative music making and music appreciation courses for people of all ages. She also makes great chocolate brownies.

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