An artist of Queens County. BiographyTHE KNOT...twisting traditions The Knot specializes in traditional and eclectic styles, with a broad spectrum of influences from folk, world and popular music of many eras. They have been praised for their unique sound and versatility of instrumentation, tying together various musical strands incorporating everything from Flamenco and African rhythms, jazz and four-part vocal harmony, to gypsy, Swedish and Celtic melodies. Formerly known as Celtic Knot, the band’s name was changed to better reflect the fact that while its roots are traditional Irish and Scottish music, the group has expanded to embrace more traditions and styles than its original name would imply. They have performed on stage with special guests comedian Lorne Elliott,on mandolin, PEI Symphony conductor James Mark, on clarinet, Erin Brophey of the Thunder Bay Orchestra, on oboe, Maria MacDougall of Fiddlers' Sons, on whistle, Todd MacLean of Smothered In Hugs, on saxophone, other PEI musicians such as Margie Carmichael, the late Urban Carmichael, Bonnie Leclair, Malcolm Stanley, and a guest appearance by the Hon. Marion Reid, former Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island. The members... Amanda Mark (flute, saxophone, vocals and bass) Allison Ling (fiddle, vocals and percussion) Mark-Carr Rollitt (guitar, bass and percussion) Genevieve Mullally (accordion, tuba, vocals and bass) Jacqueline Sorensen (piano, accordion, vocals, percussion) Laurie Murphy (vocals and percussion) Education & TrainingThe members...
Mark Carr-Rollitt (guitar, bass, percussion) has been studying, listening to, and playing traditional, world beat, jazz, classical, and other music forms for years. He has studied classical and flamenco guitar, and African, Baltic, and Gypsy rhythms. Mark has played flamenco guitar and percussion in Toronto.
Allison Ling (fiddle) has been studying classical violin and traditional fiddle for over twelve years. She has been a member of numerous Island ensembles, including the Singing Strings Youth Orchestra, the PEI Symphony Orchestra, the Queen's County Fiddlers, and the pop-folk group The Affections, with whom she released the PEI Music Award-nominated album, "Wake the Affections." Now working as a private music teacher, solo fiddler, and wedding musician, Allison spends time touring Canada and Great Britain with her father, humourist Nils Ling, whenever possible.
Amanda Mark (flute, whistle, bass and backing vocals) spends most of her time playing music and trying to get other people to join one of her groups. By day a public school music and band teacher, she plays and sings with The Seagals, plays with the PEI Symphony and eklektikos new music project, has subbed recently as principal flutist with Symphony New Brunswick and the Charlottetown Festival Orchestra, and performs classical repertoire as a soloist. She plays clarinet and sax in the PEI Regiment Band and sax in the Charlottetown Jazz Ensemble, and was music director for Play in the Park's Shakespeare productions in 2003 and 2004.
Genevieve Mullally (accordion, tuba) is a third year music student studying the tuba at the University of PEI. In the past year she has been listening to and playing more diverse styles of music, including classic rock, hiphop, traditional, and lots of classical. She has been awarded numerous scholarships on the basis of her musicianship and community involvement, most recently the ACNMP Scholarship for the Most Outstanding Performance at the Contemporary Showcase. She earned a seat in the National Youth Band of Canada for the 2005 season and attended world-renowned music academy Domaine Forget. Genevieve enjoys her time joining as many campus activities as possible, and learning new instruments. In the Knot, she most often plays accordion, and sings backup vocals.
Laurie Murphy (vocals, percussion) likes to try all styles and genres of music and enjoys the process as much as the product. Music may be relatively new to her, but creativity and performance has certainly been a part of this Prince Edward Islander's life for many years. Laurie loves to act, teach, direct and produce, and she is passionate about comedy and poetry. In addition to her work with The Knot, she also sings and plays percussion with the Island folk group The Seagals.
Jacqueline Sorensen, (piano, accordion, percussion) a well known Charlottetown-based collaborative pianist, operates an independent piano teaching studio in Charlottetown, is a Sessional Lecturer at the UPEI Music Department, Director of Music at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church, a member of eklektikos new music project, a piano examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music Examinations in Toronto, and is in demand as an adjudicator in Atlantic and Central Canada. As a member of eklektikos, she was recorded on the soundtrack for "Picking Lucy's Brain". She has also worked as a Pianist for the Charlottetown Festival, PEI Conservatory, Theatre PEI, and studios and choirs at the University of Prince Edward Island. This summer she produced and performed in the Beaconsfield Children's Festival productions "Rockin' Rhythm and Rhymes" and "Fiddle Sticks and Sliding Bones" and also worked as a workshop leader for the Charlottetown Festival Musical Theatre Camp.
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