Biography
BACKGROUND
Mary Mc Laughlin is a singer / songwriter / teacher who is steeped in the Ulster Gaelic song tradition of her native Ireland where she was born and raised.
Mary records, performs and teaches workshops in singing skills, performance technique and Gaelic song and culture. She has toured extensively throughout North America teaching and performing at Celtic / Irish camps. She teaches singing skills and technique as well as the Irish style of singing and is much sought after in Northern California where she now lives.
PERFORMING
Mary lived for many years in London and performed on the English Folk Scene, singing and playing guitar and keyboards with various groups including the Folk Rock group Traitor’s Gait; Anonyma (a duo with singer-songwriter Anne Lister), with whom she still periodically tours in the UK; multi- instrumentalist Steafán Hannigan and the Martin Simpson Band.
In 1997 Mary moved to California. Over the last decade and a half she has toured extensively throughout the USA with various ensembles and bands (including Martin Simpson’s U.S. band, and Celtic guitarists Robin Bullock and William Coulter). She has also performed with Bay Area musicians Neal Hellman, Danny Carnahan, Libby Mc Laren and Robin Flower, and currently performs with harper Steve Coulter and guitarist Bruce Abrams.
CHORAL WORK
Mary is known for her ability to arrange traditional Irish material chorally as well as her singing, writing and teaching abilities. In 2007 she founded a sacred Gaelic Choir Mary Mc Laughlin’s Cór Ainglí in Santa Cruz, N. California. Mary solos with the 25 piece choir conducted by Kathleen Loveless and accompanied by a band of Celtic musicans. http://www.coraingli.com/
Through 2011 she performed in a theatrical/dance production, Selkie Tides, based on the Scottish Selkie legends, conceived and directed by Sharon Took-Zozaya. Mary led a small chorus (pictured below.) This show will be performed again at the Santa Cruz Fringe Festival in July 2012.
TEACHING
Mary initially completed a BA and graduate teaching certificate at London University and has both taught in schools and colleges as well as privately, in the UK and the USA.
Having initially trained in vocal technique in England with the acclaimed vocal teacher Frankie Armstrong, Mary formalized her training in 1995 by acquiring a Certificate of Vocal Music Education from Trinity College London. In 2010 she went back to Ireland to study for an MA in Ritual Chant and Song at Limerick University where she specialized in the fairy / mythological songs of Ireland as well as Latin plainchant and the Irish tradiiton of Keening.
She currently teaches singing technique / skills, and Gaelic singing, in Santa Cruz California, as well as guesting at festivals and workshops.
RECORDING
Her solo recording career got launched in 1991 with The Daughter of Lir, produced by international producer Jon Jacobs who had worked on many of the Beatles’ projects.
The lead track Sealwoman headed off Narada’s 1995 Celtic Voices which reached #3 in the Billboard charts and introduced Mary to an international audience.
She has released four solo albums and two teaching books, sang the theme song for the PBS special Lost Liners, contributed to 13 compilation albums on major labels and had her Gaelic Christmas album nominated for the international JPF Indie awards
2012 sees Mary back in the studio recording her new album Sacred Days, Mythic Ways, an album which brings together her two passions - the ancient songs of sacred Ireland and songs based on Celtic Mythology. The album is due for release early Autumn 2012.
See home page for details.
In addition Gourd music is releasing a retrospective compilation called The Mary Mc Laughlin Storybook, drawing on three of her previous albums. This album will be released on ITUNES only in late summer.
DISCOGRAPHY (SEE STORE TO PURCHASE AVAILABLE CDS)
SOLO
A Gaelic Christmas CD / Song book Rowan Records (Distribution: Gourd Music)
Crystal Shoe Rowan Records (Distribution: Gourd Music)
Singing in Irish Gaelic Book / CD set Mel Bay Publishing
Daughter of Lir Rowan Records (Distribution: Gourd Music)
Celtic Requiem Windham Hill / BMG
COMPILATIONS
Celtic Circle Sony BMG
Celtic Circle 2 Sony BMG
Celtic Legacy Sony BMG
Celtic Sampler Sony BMG
Narada Decade Two” Narada
Faire Celts NaradaWorld
Celtic Song NaradaWorld
Celtic Dream Windham Hill/Hay House
Celtic Inspirations Windham Hill
The Echoes Living Room Concerts Vol. 4 Echodisc
Conversations with God disc 2 Windham Hill
Narada World Narada Collection Series
Celtic Voices: Women of Song Narada Media
CONTRIBUTIONS TO OTHER ALBUMS
Lost Liners(soundtrack for PBS show) Michael Whalen PBS Recordings
Celtic Crossroads John Whelan & Friends Narada
A Flame in Avalon Anne Lister Hearthfire
Heading Home Christine Kydd Fellside Recordings
Burnt Feathers Anonyma Fellside Recordings
True Dare or Promise Martin and Jessica Simpson Topic
Poor Young Willie Traitors Gait Waterline Music
3d Off Traitors Gait Waterline Music
