SOMETHING ABOUT MARY

Mary Knickle was brought up in a small fishing town on stories and songs. She studied music at Acadia University including four years of counterpoint. After graduating she studied acting, singing and dancing at the Banff School of Fine Arts and then in New York City for two years at the American Musical Dramatic Academy. She performed in Operas, Musicals, and plays in professional venues for over 30 years.

"…. high spirited Mary Knickle…featuring a voice so crystal clear that the audience actually sat silent to listen during the plaintive songs sprinkled throughout the group's final set. "

Grass Roots Folk Festival

When she discovered her songwriting ability she formed her own Celtic band and played Folk Festivals and concert venues over 15 years releasing 3 albums of original music, the second recorded by CBC. She has received honours and was a semi-finalist in two prestigious song-writing contests out of the UK. Her last album Weave received national recognition.

" This isn't a traditional CD of traditional type music; it is a grander work of art from a deeper tradition of spirit. It is more than a collection of songs, but rather a portrait of life experiences. If sounds were colours, then Weave is a rainbow.”

Stephen Clare – Reporter for the Daily News, Halifax NS

Mary discovered her passion to write larger works and combined all of her theatre, music and writing skills to develop these dramatic compositions.

Hailed as a “talented composer” by Opera Canada Magazine, her opera Morgan le Fay received a rave review. Miryam, a musical drama for voices and string quartet, uses Sephardic influences and her Seafarers’ Requiem for SATB Chorus and soloists received high acclaim and national recognition on CBC radio.

She participated in the Lunenburg Academy Music Performance 10 day intensive composition academy working with Dinuk Wijeratne and Robert Aitken and presented her piece written for small ensemble and voice to a poem from Sue Goyette’s poetry collection “Ocean”.

Her large choral piece on the Halifax Explosion debuted on the 100th anniversary in December 2017

“Amazing voices and storytelling. Mary Knickle is to be commended for this masterpiece. ”

Audience Review – Seafarer's Requiem, Lunenburg NS

Mary is currently commissioned by the Confederation Centre of the arts to write a new musical based on Wendy Lil’s play and Sheldon Currie’s novel: The Glace Bay Miners Museum.

Mary is an Associate Composer with the Canadian Music Centre.