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"I have played the violin since I was 4 only recently taking myself seriously with the vocals and career business. Being brought up in the hill's in Derbyshire meant there wasn't a great deal of opportunity to go out and listen to live music. Luckily we have a family friend who is a bluegrass double bass player and guitarist who took me on board and plied me with compilation tapes of music from America: old time fiddle tunes, folk songs (new and old), bluegrass and country. I would spend hours in my room learning the tunes and lyrics from these old recordings and playing through the fiddlers fake book till I could hardly stand any more!! Unfortunately I never knew who most of the artist's were, only Alison Krauss, Kathy Kallick and Lawrie Lewis. Along side this private discovery of a music I loved I was at school taking part in any musical activity available. Playing in every orchestra, singing in the choir and performing in the annual school musical. Outside of school I would go to the Peak District String orchestra in Buxton every Friday night in stead of going out like most of the other kid's did. I just loved playing and still do. It was only when the playing became a chore (at college) that I found my enthusiasm disappearing. I found that in the classical world people weren't very ready to accept anything different from what was expected. Anything that challenged the classical perception was quickly rubbed out. I found the whole attitude very closed minded and hated being made to fit into a box that I just didn't fit into. The composition department were very welcoming and restored my faith in creative music. I trained originally as a classical musician and found that it was like beating my head against a brick wall! Don't get me wrong I love classical music, just not the way it is taught. I found that I could write the odd tune so I did my degree in composition finding that I was able to expand my creativity in the way that I had wanted to and become a more versatile musician. Haven't yet settled on what it is I am doing musically but gradually I am finding my way. I play with several different bands including Sid Peacock's SURGE (www.sidpeacock.com), The Rainbow Chasers (www.folkicons.com) with Ashley Hutchings, Jo Hamilton and Mark Hutchinson. I love trying out different styles and learning about other types of music. Have had a guitar for nearly 2 years now and am writing songs and singing more than I ever imagined! Never thought I would make a living out of this! My hobbies include knitting, drinking beer/whisky (only the quality stuff!), having baths, moaning when it's cold, listening to music, planting things, doing the charity shops and collecting shells on the beach."