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Katrina Bishop ~ Biography Beginning in Nova Scotia with a childhood immersed in musical theatre and Celtic influences, Katrina moved on to New Brunswick where she gained experience in Rock, Jazz and Folk. Then came the big move West, where she became lead singer for the Vancouver Funk band Rumplesteelskin, and alto and co-writer / arranger for the progressive A Cappella quartet, The 4Tunes. She received full scholarships for a 2-year diploma in Contemporary Music and for the Banff Summer Jazz Workshop, and followed this up as composer and guest vocalist with Hugh Fraser's International Jazz Workshop Big Band for three years running. Over the years she has written and sung for various musical projects, including CD tracks, musical theatre pieces, and the Bravo! channel film 'Motifs and Repetitions'. Katrina returned to solo acoustic performances in 1999, writing new songs and honing some old favorites, and in October of 2001 she released her first solo CD, 'Runaway Lane'. Calling upon many of the fine musicians she has worked with in the past, and making full use of her arranging background, Katrina enlisted the help of Juno award-winning engineers Tom Keenlyside and Commodor Perry Barrett to help bring it all together. The release of 'Runaway Lane' under her own label, 'Grizelda Records' (named after her crane - Katrina is a certified log home builder), marked the beginning of the job of marketing, publicity and touring. She received rave reviews in Canadian Musician Magazine, The Vancouver Sun and many internet sites, she won First Place in the 2001 Unisong International Song Contest's 'World Music' category, and Runner-Up in the 2001 John Lennon Songwriting Contest's 'Jazz' category, she has received airplay and interviews on such radio stations as CKDU-FM Halifax, CiTR UBC Campus Radio, CBC's 'Connections', 'Atlantic Airwaves' and 'Weekender', and radio play in France, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Iceland and New Zealand. She appeared on VTV Breakfast Television, and twice on CTV Halifax Breakfast Television. She has also received a national distribution deal with Spirit River Distribution. Aside from performing in Vancouver and the surrounding area, including shows at The Railway Club, The Media Club and DV8 Lounge, Katrina completed two extended tours in 2002. The first, in March, took her through Toronto and Nova Scotia, playing clubs, pubs, house concerts and a sold-out live recording concert in Wolfville's Kipawo Theatre. The second, in July and August, was a Nova Scotia tour, including dates at Halifax's Stayner's Wharf and Velvet Olive, along with several performances in rural communities. Future plans include the pursuit of licensing for film and television, more performances in support of 'Runaway Lane', and a follow-up CD, entitled 'La La La, I Can't Hear You', which is in pre-production for a 2003 release.
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