"The voices of angels have graced our ears and touched us to the very core."
Katy Taylor, vocalist, composer, and musician, performs as "Mirabilis" with Amy Fradon, singing original and medieval chant and song that weaves celtic ornamentation with haunting, mystical chant and prayers. Specializing in the music of Hildegard von Bingen, a capella and accompanied by medieval hurdy gurdy, flutes, and shruti box, Katy and Amy's purity of tone and musical depth inspires and transports.
Katy performs mainly under the name of Mirabilis, which means "full of wonder," -- both solo and whenever possible with her dear friend, Amy Fradon, the well-beloved Hudson Valley singer/songwriter and creator of the Vocal Visionary Training Program.
Katy has been singing since she was a child, starting her career at school talent shows and singing in chorus, school musicals, and church choirs. She has a Bachelors from Alfred University (Alfred, NY) in Performing Arts with a voice emphasis, where she studied voice classically. Katy then studied in Vienna, where she acquired a taste for medieval music by singing with Vienna's St. Augustine Church Choir, immersed herself in music, and studied voice and German. She later studied Swedish, earning a Masters in Teaching English as a Second Language from the Univeristy of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN).
While living in Vermont, Katy toured with the group Northern Harmony in the United States, Canada, England, and Europe, performing and recording traditional music of all kinds. singing with Peter and Mary Alice Amidon and Tony Barrand. She also sang with the eclectic, traditional music group, the Bayley-Hazen Singers and with Anima, a medieval women's group. With Anima, she participated in the recording of two albums of medieval music.
Anima first introduced her to the music of 12th c. German mystic Hildegard von Bingen. This music felt like home and Katy promptly learned all she could of it, furthering her study of Hildegard and medieval music by training with the internationally-acclaimed medieval ensemble, Sequentia, and eventually co-directing Anima.
Katy moved to the Mid-Hudson area six years ago to pursue her music in a new, more diverse area. In 2000 she released her first CD, Mirabilis, from a live recording of a concert in January 2000 in Kingston, which is available through Katy and on cdbaby.com. She has performed extensively in the area and recently received a commission with Amy Fradon to write a piece of sacred music.
Welcome Brigid is the title track of Katy's soon to be released 2nd CD, which features medieval and original devotional chant and song to the Divine Feminine. Katy is joined by Amy Fradon on vocals and accompanies herself on hurdy gurdy, shruti box, and flutes.
What Audience Members Are Saying About Katy's Music:
Artist in Residence Series, Holy Cross Church, Kingston, NY, January 2000
I am so excited that you have struck such a deep spiritual chord with so many people. The three of you were so tuned in! I felt you were present to us all at a high level. We were swept up by it . . . The voice of your muse is at least as beautiful as your music . . . And the programming . . . powerful simplicity. The eloquence even of your silence. I am still levitating. Thank you so much. Thank the Spirit that fills us all with music.
It was beautiful! . . . I look forward to more of your music. In this day and age of techno, it's especially promising to hear voices, beautiful, unadulterated voices. Thanks.
Katy, I wanted to tell you that your music and voice are transcendental. I was truly moved at your concert, both Mark and myself felt transported to a meditative, mystical place. Thank you so much!
Towards the end of your concert my tensions melted . . . faces of individuals I've had conflict with faded into some greater transcendent love. My own fumbling incapacity to love was released into forgiveness and I felt a sense of Grace, Peace, and Joy. Than
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