Mary Keith

Musician

2025 was another fruitful year, despite consciously trying to wind things down a little! 

 I enjoyed some inspirational projects including  directing the choir in Francesca LaLohe's new opera "Who is Molly Leigh?" at B Arts, composing the music for About Face Theatre's show "Just Visiting". This was the last show under their director Jess Mackenzie, who retired this year. It was such a pleasure to help the company create this last poignant show for Jess.

I worked with Alison Duddle of Bird in Hand Theatre on a Spring Equinox processional event at Biddulph Valley Park, and spent another lovely time working in the Yorkshire Dales on creating new curlew inspired songs with Matthew

In October/November I spent 5 weeks in the Montemuro Mountains of Portugal working  with Theatre Montemuro on their new show for children "BoboGlobo", working with wonderful double bass player Goncalo Alegre and actress Christiana Sousa.

The Mere Singers, Morning Sun Singers and Keele Women's Community Choir continue to gather new singers and I love bringing all three groups together to perform at St Mary's, this year raising funds for Guide Dogs. See video below.



About

I am a freelance musician, currently working  regularly  as Musical Director for The Mere Singers  in Shrewsbury, The Keele Women's Community Choir, the Morning Sun Singers in Welshampton and Buzzy Beats based at the Hive in Shrewsbury.

I am composer/ Musical Director for theatre and community based projects, including B Arts, The New Vic, The National Trust, Arts Alive, National Heritage Lottery, About Face Theatre, The Fetch and Teatro Montemuro, (Portugal). 

After completeting a BSC Hons Music at City University, I trained with Community Music East, before embarking on a free-lance career that has seen me working with community and education projects for Glyndebourne Opera, Opera North, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Halle Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic, The Royal Ballet, and creating new music for The New Vic Theatre, Foursight Theatre, Horse and Bamboo Theatre, Pentabus Theatre, About Face Theatre, The Fetch and a series of musical folk tales from around  the world for Channel 4.  My musical work has taken me to exciting parts of the world- Palestinian Refugee camps, the jungles and hills of Nagaland, a horse drawn theatre tour across the Hungarian Pusta, creating playful new theatre with students in Korea, composing for Teatro Montemuro in the wild Montemuro mountains of Portugal, performing on Woman's Hour, the Royal Albert Hall, Hamlet's Castle in Denmark, the Edinburgh Festival and on top of the Long Mynd.



Dates for 2026



Friday 9 January:  Buzzy Beats sessions resume Friday mornings 10.30-11.30 at The Hive, Shrewsbury.

 Please book in with the link above.


Monday 12th January:  Mere Singers term starts, 7.30-9.00 at The Hive Shrewsbury.

New singers welcome!


Thursday 8th January:  Morning Sun Singers sessions start,

Thursday mornings 10.30-11.30 at Welshampton Parish Hall. Drop-in group for all voices!


Thursday 8th January:  Keele Women's Community Choir sessions start.

Thursday evenings 7.30-9.00 at The Dorothy Hodgkin Building, Keele University.

 



May 20-27 2026:  Singing Holiday at la Maison Anglais, Taroudant, Morroco. Please book with Holiday with Heart .https://cecu.co.uk/br260520/


Saturday 11 April 2026 - Songs for Spring, 2.30pm St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury. Combined Choir Concert.


Sunday 21st June 2pm  Mary and the Mudlarks @ Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival


SOctober 17-24 2026 Arthur's Plough at Theatre Severn and Market Drayton centre


December 12th 2026 Songs of Peace and Joy , Mereside Centre Shrewsbury


maryskeith@aol.com
0787 5637786


Add your custom HTML here