Katya Gorrie

Born on 10 December 1967 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, Gorrie arrived while her Canadian parents were temporarily based there, with her father heading a local theatrical company. She grew up in Canada, where she trained in dance at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and, beginning at age ten, joined her parents’ theatre troupe on tour. Urged on by her mother—a singer, dancer and poet—she pursued classical studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music, later enrolling in a jazz programme at Capilano College in Vancouver.

Her listening interests span pop, rock, jazz, folk and classical, embracing, in her words, “anything with melody and rhythm!” Beyond vocal performance she writes songs and theatrical scores and has appeared on stage as an actress. During the mid-00s she settled in the UK, where audiences responded warmly to both her concerts and recordings; these projects range from the children’s album The Allihipporhinocrocodilligator (2003) to the acclaimed jazz collection Tales Of Misbehaviour (2007). She has also collaborated with Prue Velour.

Gorrie has performed across Canada, the USA and Europe at clubs, theatres and festivals, leading her ensemble Libeatos as well as a cappella jazz trios. Throughout the 00s she remained active in the UK and Europe with her two principal groups, the Jazz Band and the All Girl Blues Band.