Projects
Collaborations and Leadership
Projects
Harpers Ferry, WV
Cassadó Project
Northumberland, UK
Ireland and International
New Music collaboration
Appalachian Chamber Music Festival
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Inspired by the natural beauty and charm of Harpers Ferry and driven by her love of chamber music, Katie founded the Appalachian Chamber Music Festival in 2021. Katie believes that music has the power to bring us together. No matter your age, tastes, background, ethnicity or creed, sharing an intimate musical experience has the potential to change lives by reminding us what it means to be alive. Katie draws inspiration from ACMF artists who are also friends- people who are united by this ethos and want to make the world a better place by sharing our enthusiasm and love of music. We strive to illuminate the ties between all music. Louis Armstrong put it well: "There are two types of music: the good, and the other kind. I play the good kind."
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ACMF melds world-class chamber music performances, collaboration and outreach, with the rich and inspiring history, nature and culture of Harpers Ferry, Charles Town, Jefferson County and surrounding areas. We are all about bringing music to audiences in new, meaningful and accessible ways! We celebrate what is already here on a world stage, while striving to further enrich the region through our shared love of music. We work to elevate and amplify local businesses and organizations as we celebrate and preserve the unique nature, history and culture of the area.
To find out more about the festival, please visit appalachianchamber.org
Cassadó Project: Lost in Plain Sight
“Lost in Plain Sight” is an international humanities project exploring the life, legacy and work of 20th century Catalan cellist and composer, Gaspar Cassadó, contexualizing his music in a dynamic concert and lecture experience.
Find out more here.
Howay The Lasses
“Blows struck and awareness raised, Howay The Lasses adds another keystone to the North East musical legacy.”
-At The Barrier
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“..this is an enjoyable album to listen to telling the stories of women who otherwise may be
hidden from history. With great vocals and instrumentals and intended as a first volume, we can eagerly look forward to the second.” -The Morning Star
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Read about Howay The Lasses on BBC
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Dynamic folk ensemble Howay the Lasses celebrates the lives and stories of notable North East women through original song and musical arrangements.The North East of England is rich with the discoveries, achievements and successes of women from all strands of life - from writers, and reformers, to animators and engineers. Some stories are known to a degree - others not at all. Musicians Annie Ball, Katie Tertell, Bronwen Davies-Jones and Gareth Davies-Jones have teamed up on "Howay The Lasses" to tell them out loud through original song. Find out more at howaythelasses.com
Back in late winter 2021 Howay The Lasses, aka pianist and singer Annie Ball, Singer-songwriter Bronwen Davies-Jones, cellist Katie Tertell and Singer-songwriter Gareth Davies-Jones, set out on a collaborative musical adventure documenting the lives and stories of notable North East women through original song. After writing about engineers like Rachel Parsons (whose childhood was spent in Wylam), mathematicians like Janet Taylor from Wolsingham (the first woman ever to patent a navigational instrument) and creatives like animator Sheila Graber from South Shields (who drew Paddington Bear for the 1980s BBC TV series) the group released their eponymous album in October 2022 to critical acclaim and extensive airplay on regional and national radio. Fresh from their live performance of their song ‘Howay The Lasses’ on the pitch at St James’ Park in November when the Newcastle United Women’s team played only their second ever fixture at the ground, tonight Howay The Lasses launch 2023 with many exciting performances near and far.
The Popper Project
Following the Popper Project, nothing seems difficult anymore, and that is the real success"- The Strad
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The Popper Project is an online learning resource for cellists created by Katie Tertell and Ailbhe McDonagh.It was born from the idea that the music world is a richer place when we can all succeed in our performance goals in better and more efficient ways. Katie started Cello Power in December of 2020 with friend and colleague Ailbhe McDongagh (Royal Irish Academy of Music). The project was featured in The Strad magazine in May, 2023.
The ethos of the project is centered around the idea that learning and improving technique is something that happens for a lifetime and can be fun, supportive and empowering. The pair create a inclusive online space where cellists at any stage can learn.​Their 2021 project covers all 40 Popper Studies "High School of Cello playing" through engaging vlog and performances (all available for free on YouTube) and includes highly esteemed special guest cellists from around the world. Katie and Ailbhe presented on this project at the "Perform_Live Now" international conference in Mar, 2022.​
To watch the Popper Project videos, please subscribe to our YouTube Channel.
A Winter's Journey, Reimagined
“A Winter’s Journey Reimagined” is a multi-movement, cross-disciplinary work solo cello, dancer and lighting that draws its inspiration from Schubert’s famous song-cycle “Winterreise” and explores the themes of loneliness, man vs. nature, and mental health. Katie has been working together with composer Mark Boden since June 2021 on the creative process and bringing this work to life. Katie's inspiration for this project came from creative exploration work with composer-performers Jörg Widmann and Zoë Martlew as part of a "Developing Your Creative Practice" grant from the Arts Council in 2021.
The final work will incorporate an 8-9 piece chamber ensemble in which performers are choreographed alongside dancers. The final work, scheduled to be completed in 2027 will have 12 short movements, each featuring one or more of the instruments in the ensemble. Some movements will be solo movements, or will only incorporate a few instruments (a la Messian’s Quartet For The End Of Time). August 2023 saw the US premiere the trio movements of the work in Berryville, VA. The solo cello movement of the work, titled “Linden”, was premiered at the Appalachian Chamber Music Festival (USA) in August, 2022 and will be recorded in July of 2023.
Physical movement is an important aspect of the work as we want to convey a greater sense of the human spirit and journey through movement. The symbolism through dance enhances the musical experience for audiences.
Venues and partners interested in this project, please get in touch via the contact form or by emailing katie@appalachianchamber.org.
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