Maria Dunn (musician)
Encyclopedia
Maria Dunn is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She has been described as "an arrestingly powerful singer-songwriter who writes great historical and social commentary." Her music blends Celtic folk with North American bluegrass and country influences.
, she moved as an infant with her family to Sarnia, Ontario
. She was ten years old when the family relocated to Sherwood Park
outside Edmonton, Alberta. She has made that city her base since that time.
As a child she studied classical piano and she later studied psychology at the University of Alberta
. While a student at U of A she started a folk music program on the campus radio which she continued for 12 years. Immersing herself in folk music in this way, she gravitated towards writing her own songs. Her first album, From Where I Stand, was released in 1998 and her appearance at the 2000 Stan Rogers Folk Festival
brought her to the attention of an East Coast Canadian audience that embraced her Celtic sound.
Since then she has released three other albums including the Juno nominated For a Song (2002). She appears at folk festivals around the world, often performing with The McDades
. In 2003 she appeared at the BBC Scotland "Live From Celtic Connections" in Glasgow, Scotland. In 2008 she commenced a tour of the Netherlands.
She appeared in the 2002 documentary CKUA: Radio Worth Fighting For. Many artists have used her songs such as Niamh Parsons (The Peddler), Bob Bossin (We Were Good People), Aengus Finnan (Orphan Hand), The Outside Track (Poor Lonesome Hen) and others.
Early life
Born in ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, she moved as an infant with her family to Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
. She was ten years old when the family relocated to Sherwood Park
Sherwood Park, Alberta
Sherwood Park is a large hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Strathcona County that is recognized as an urban service area. It is located adjacent to the City of Edmonton's eastern boundary, generally south of Highway 16 , west of Highway 21 and north of Highway 630...
outside Edmonton, Alberta. She has made that city her base since that time.
As a child she studied classical piano and she later studied psychology at the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
. While a student at U of A she started a folk music program on the campus radio which she continued for 12 years. Immersing herself in folk music in this way, she gravitated towards writing her own songs. Her first album, From Where I Stand, was released in 1998 and her appearance at the 2000 Stan Rogers Folk Festival
Stan Rogers Folk Festival
The Stan Rogers Folk Festival, informally known as Stanfest, is an annual three-day music festival held in Canso, Nova Scotia.Established in 1997 in honour of the late Canadian folk singer and songwriter Stan Rogers, the festival bills itself as "an international festival of songwriters",...
brought her to the attention of an East Coast Canadian audience that embraced her Celtic sound.
Since then she has released three other albums including the Juno nominated For a Song (2002). She appears at folk festivals around the world, often performing with The McDades
The McDades
The McDades are a Canadian band made up of siblings Shannon Johnson , Solon McDade , Jeremiah McDade and their musical friends....
. In 2003 she appeared at the BBC Scotland "Live From Celtic Connections" in Glasgow, Scotland. In 2008 she commenced a tour of the Netherlands.
She appeared in the 2002 documentary CKUA: Radio Worth Fighting For. Many artists have used her songs such as Niamh Parsons (The Peddler), Bob Bossin (We Were Good People), Aengus Finnan (Orphan Hand), The Outside Track (Poor Lonesome Hen) and others.
Discography
- From Where I Stand (1998)
- For A Song (2001) (JunoJuno AwardThe Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
nomination in the Roots/Traditional Solo category) - We Were Good People (2004) (“struggles of working class people in Western Canada during the 20th Century”)
- The Peddler (2008) (Nominated in 2009 for the Canadian Folk Music Award Solo artist of the Year).