Santa Barbara
Blessed by the progressive and rich cultural environment of Santa Barbara, Kate grew up immersed in music, art and literature. Her early musical tastes were eclectic: Joni Mitchell to Chopin, African Mbira to Swedish Nyckleharpas. She taught herself to play Mountain Dulcimer when she was 14, and fell in love with the Hammer Dulcimer in her early twenties. She produced her first recording, Hungry Moon, in 1984 and has continued to produce beautiful music ever since. Although she is considered by most to be an American Celtic artist, Kate considers herself a contemporary World composer in that her music incorporates a rich and diverse tonal palette, blending the essence of ancient ethnic instruments into new compositions with contemporary sensibilities.
