Alice began Northumbrian smallpipes lessons at the age of 8 and belonged to local folk bands including the Alnwick Pipers Society and Border Box, making a CD with both. At the age of 10 Alice was invited to accompany the Northumbrian Pipers Society on their three week tour of New Zealand. She also recorded part of a solo CD named ‘The Quiet Hills’ and a piece for Radio 4’s ‘Go for it’. She won her first Northumbrian Smallpipes open competition at the age of 11, the youngest ever to do so. In 2002 Alice was offered a place at St Mary’s Music School, Edinburgh, as a first study Northumbrian piper. This was a unique opportunity for a piper and folk instrumentalist, though Alice subsequently studied classical clarinet and piano to a high standard. Alice is currently reading music at the University of York, with a particular interest in the influence of folk music in the work of classical composers.
Dr. Anthony Robb has been Alice’s tutor and great friend. He has imparted to Alice his passion for Northumbrian music and a deep knowledge of our folk heritage. Alice belongs to Dr. Robb’s Windy Gyle Band and has recorded with the group. In 2007 Alice was Berwick-upon-Tweed’s Folk Musician of the Year and she is currently Piper to the Mayor of Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Aged 16, Alice and clarsach player, Emily Hoile, were finalists in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards 2009 and subsequent performances together include the BBC Folk Awards, Durham Gathering 2010, National Forrest Folk Festival 2011 and Lammermuir Music Festival 2011. Alice and Emily were members of Kathryn Tickell’s youth group Fokestra, with whom they played in the first BBC Folk Prom held in the Royal Albert Hall, premiering a specially commissioned piece by Kathryn Tickell. As part of a small folk fusion group, Kilairum, Alice and Emily played at Celtic connections 2010 and ’11. In 2011 the duo were excited to be invited to perform live on Radio Three’s programme, ‘In Tune’.
Emily and Alice have released a short CD with Hooky Matt Records, ‘Emily & Alice’—click here for more information
Dr. Anthony Robb has been Alice’s tutor and great friend. He has imparted to Alice his passion for Northumbrian music and a deep knowledge of our folk heritage. Alice belongs to Dr. Robb’s Windy Gyle Band and has recorded with the group. In 2007 Alice was Berwick-upon-Tweed’s Folk Musician of the Year and she is currently Piper to the Mayor of Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Aged 16, Alice and clarsach player, Emily Hoile, were finalists in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards 2009 and subsequent performances together include the BBC Folk Awards, Durham Gathering 2010, National Forrest Folk Festival 2011 and Lammermuir Music Festival 2011. Alice and Emily were members of Kathryn Tickell’s youth group Fokestra, with whom they played in the first BBC Folk Prom held in the Royal Albert Hall, premiering a specially commissioned piece by Kathryn Tickell. As part of a small folk fusion group, Kilairum, Alice and Emily played at Celtic connections 2010 and ’11. In 2011 the duo were excited to be invited to perform live on Radio Three’s programme, ‘In Tune’.
Emily and Alice have released a short CD with Hooky Matt Records, ‘Emily & Alice’—click here for more information