Photo credits: Brian Slater/Speedwell Dance
Alana is a folk singer, fiddle player, choir leader and multi-arts facilitator from the woods and hills of Herefordshire. Her rural upbringing instilled a sense of deep connection with the natural world which she explores through traditional song and songwriting. From wild and uplifting fiddle playing, to intimate and expressive singing, Alana's folk musicianship is embodied and heartfelt.
Alana is an experienced choir leader and community facilitator. She is the co-founder of the Farm Choir (Leeds) and runs community singing workshops with people of all ages across the UK/Ireland in schools, at conferences and festivals, and in community settings. As a Natural Voice Network practitioner, Alana brings people together with her inclusive, playful and expressive teaching style. She shares songs in 3-4 part harmony from her extensive repertoire of traditional material and her own compositions, and seeks to bring people in connection with their voice, community and the land.
Alana gained a First-Class Honours degree in Folk Music from Leeds Conservatoire, where she was trained by specialists such as Nancy Kerr, Jim Moray and Pete Flood. She performs regularly within vibrant folk scene of Leeds as well as touring UK venues and festivals such as Sidmouth Folk Festival. She is a versatile and skilled musician performing with Georgie Buchanan, Captain Bullhead Ceilidh Band, and pianist Ruben Maric.
Most recently, Alana has been exploring and immersing herself within the traditional music, set-dancing and mythology of the Gaeltacht areas of West Kerry and North Donegal, Ireland. Here she has been deepening her practice and learning directly from oral tradition bearers.
“Bringing people together in song is one of my greatest loves. It is a joy to create and hold inclusive spaces where we can celebrate our interconnectedness with each other and the land we live upon through song. There is healing and nourishment when individual and group expression come together and we release and rest within the sonic landscape of shared voice”