Katy Carr's Nov/ Dec 2018 Newsletter :) Poland 100 concerts, Luxembourg, Northern Ireland, Polkowice, Ząbkowice Śląskie, Piotrowice Nyskie Palace

Katy Carr's Nov/ Dec 2018 Newsletter :) Poland 100 concerts, Luxembourg, Northern Ireland, Polkowice, Ząbkowice Śląskie, Piotrowice Nyskie Palace

Dearest Friends - my most loved and cherished ones on this planet :)

November 2018 has been such a wonderfully exciting month for team Katy Carr. We have travelled far and wide bringing you our music and rejoicing in reconnecting with our loyal fans and friends across the planet. Thank you so much for your continued support.

Big thanks to our loyal friends in the following places - Luxembourg, Northern Ireland and Poland.

This month commememorated the 100th Year Anniversary of the end of WWI. It is with regret that this episode of our history now lies no longer with the living. I wanted to say that I have been so privileged in my life to have met some of the gentlemen and ladies who remembered the fighting and the trenches and I will never forget their voices and stories which continue to echo in my head and continue to inspire me to this day.

I wanted to share a couple of poems with you by the wonderful poet that was Siegfried Sassoon (1886 - 1967 / Kent / England) that my friends who had fought during WWI shared with me and continue to inspire me to this day.

Wonderment

Then a wind blew;

And he who had forgot he moved

Lonely amid the green and silver morning weather,

Suddenly grew

Aware of clouds and trees

Gleaming and white and shafted, shaken together

And blown to music by the ruffling breeze.

Like flush of wings

The moment passed: he stood

Dazzled with blossom in the swaying wood;

Then he remembered how, through all swift things,

This mortal scene stands built of memories,—

Shaped by the wise

Who gazed in breathing wonderment,

And left us their brave eyes

To light the ways they went.

Wisdom

When Wisdom tells me that the world’s a speck
Lost on the shoreless blue of God’s To-Day...
I smile, and think, ‘For every man his way:
The world’s my ship, and I’m alone on deck!’
And when he tells me that the world’s a spark
Lit in the whistling gloom of God’s To-Night...
I look within me to the edge of dark,
And dream, ‘The world’s my field, and I’m the lark,
Alone with upward song, alone with light!’

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REFLECTION UPON THIS MONTH'S CONCERTS

My concerts during November 2018 have reflected the very essence of commemoration. We remember those Frreedom fighters from WWI who will never be forgotten for their bravery. Lest We Forget..... RIP

We also remember Poland in 1918 when she regained her Independence after 123 years of fierce rebellion and Freedom fighting. We remember all those mothers and fathers of Independence who contributed to the Freedom of the Polish Nation in all fields across military, culture, science, literature, architecture, humanities, geography, politics, family and religious practices who all fought together for Poland and her people to be free from slavery.

My concerts this month have therefore been connected with reflection, remembrance, celebration and commemoration.

I was so happy to spend the 100th Year Anniversary of an Independent Poland on Polish soil. I think my spirit guides wanted me to be in Poland so that I could sing and share the 32 songs that I have written over the past 7 years about all the incredible Freedom Fighters from history whose stories of bravery have enchanted my rediscovery of my own Polish roots. I thank the Polish people I have encountered along the way who have shared their remarkable knowledge with me so that i can celebrate through the musical expression that lies so close to my own soul.

I am so blessed to have been on such a remarkable journey of elliptical discovery.

Many of my supporters are urging me to write a book about my experiences. Maybe I will - but first things first - and music and the creation of albums take prime place in my creative life with special thanks to those loyal fans and supporters of mine who have been with me through thick and thin. For it is only through the support of an audience that an artist can survive and be inspired to write more work. I am also rejoicing and remembering my friends who are currently present in the physical aswell as celebrating the presence my absent friends who are now on the spiritual plain in my thoughts and prayers RIP. You will never be forgotten XXX

CONCERT MEMORIES THIS MONTH

A big thank you to the hard work of all the concert promotors that helped secure concerts for mu music this month.

Nigel Kennedy's Polish agent Krzystof Kubanski has been amazing and organised me concerts and performances in Polkowice and in his home town of Ząbkowice Slaskie Dom kultury where I was able to also marvel at performing on the stage where so many of my Polish heroes and heroines of music had performed including Ewa Demarczyk, Czesław Niemen, Marek Grechuta.

Here are some links if you would like to take a look at how the performances went :)

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KATY CARR CONCERT Polkowice with the Choir Cantabile

Koncert Katy Carr to połączenie muzyki i opowieści o polskiej historii. Piosenki polskie śpiewane po polsku i angielsku, Koncert z niezwykłą atmosferą i udziałem Chóru Cantabile.

Watch performance on Polkowice TV here : http://www.tv.polkowice.pl/wiadomosci/8059,katy-carr-o-polsce

http://pca.pl/katy-carr/

Watch Katy's performance here on youtube via Polkowice TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWacalGi4C8

View photos here - Katy Carr / Fot. A. Wierdak :) http://pca.pl/katy-carr-koncert/

Radio link :) https://legnica.fm/wiadomosci/wiadomosci-kultura/23-kultura-polkowice/24276-koncert-katy-carr-w-polkowicach

And I love the efforts of the choir and the choir mistress Miss Joanna Kąca who is one of the most talented Polish choir ladies that I know. Love love love :) )))) Watch her talking about our collaboration here :) via Polkowice TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWacalGi4C8

Foto below from article : at website http://regionfan.pl/katy-carr-patriotycznie/

Katy Carr wystąpiła dziś w polkowickim kinie przed młodzieżą szkolną. Wieczorem odbędzie się drugi koncert tej brytyjskiej piosenkarki, w ramach obchodów setnej rocznicy odzyskania przez Polskę niepodległości.

– Polska dusza jest bardzo silna w moim sercu, to kraj mojej mamy – mówiła Katy Carr po występie, dodając z uśmiechem, że języka polskiego, który – jak wyznała – jest bardzo trudny, zaczęła się uczyć już jako osoba dorosła.

Ojciec artystki jest Brytyjczykiem szkockiego pochodzenia. Obecnie Katy Carr mieszka w Londynie i jest jedną z bardziej znanych na Wyspach popularyzatorek historii Polski. Szczególnie dużo wie o okresie drugiej wojny światowej i czasach powojennych.

– Polacy są bardzo bohaterskim narodem, zdolnym do wielkich poświęceń dla dobra swojego kraju. To bardzo imponujące – podkreśla artystka, której miłość do Polski zaszczepiła babcia, gdy godzinami opowiadała o rodzinnym kraju.

Katy Carr debiutowała w 2001 roku albumem „Screwing Lies”, dobrze przyjętym przez krytyków i publiczność. W 2012 roku, w 70. rocznicę ucieczki Kazimierza Piechowskiego z Auschwitz wydała płytę „Paszport”, na której znalazł się utwór „Kommander’s Car” poświęcony Piechowskiemu, z którym się zaprzyjaźniła. Podczas koncertu artystka przeplatała utwory muzyczne opowieściami o polskim bohaterstwie. Artystce towarzyszył polkowicki Chór Cantabile, pod batutą Joanny Kący.

– Po raz pierwszy wystąpiłam z chórem, a wczoraj mieliśmy próbę – dodała Katy Carr. – Jestem pod wrażeniem, że mogłam zaśpiewać z młodymi ludźmi, którzy są w wieku wielu z tych, którzy walczyli podczas drugiej wojny.

Dodajmy, że polkowicki koncert to jeden z dwóch występów Katy Carr w Polsce.

Fot. UR

Thank you Andrzej Wierdak for these wonderful pictures :)

Raising money for our friend Ignacy with a Polonia CD and with the spirit of another Ignacy - very famous - Paderewski :)

KATY CARR CONCERT Ząbkowice Slaskie

„Koncert dla Niepodległej” w Ząbkowicach Śląskich

http://e-zok.pl/wydarzenia/wydarzenie/koncert-niepodleglosciowy-szkoly-muzycznej-casio/

Katy Carr receiving flowers post solo performance and with local choir

fot.: mwinnik / em24.pl

Krzysztof Kubański introducing Katy on stage at what used to be his first place of engagement as a music industry professional.

Katy performing ' My Pierwsza Brygada' with the choir 'Szkoła Muzyczna Casio' z Ząbkowic Śląskich w finale Koncertu dla Niepodległej in Ząbkowice Slaskie - watch here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fuc47OV9LiM

For more fotos please see this link :)

http://zabkowice.express-miejski.pl/galeria/14779-73,koncert-dla-niepodleglej-w-zabkowicach-slaskich-foto#koncert-dla-niepodleglej-w-zabkowicach-slaskich-foto

watch more of katy's performance here :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km1bWgj2vW4

Katy Carr was proud to be playing in Poland where great singers have performed. I felt truly akin with the energy of this special stage space - a sacred space for great artists and musicians from Poland. It was so good to feel that I was included in the 100th Year Anniversary of Poland's Independence. Even though I am half British and half Polish I was welcomed whole heartedly into this incredible event. Thank you so much to everyone who made this a special event for all of us to celebrate our links to Poland.

I sang on Polish soil and that was more important to me than anything to be with people who truly supported this wonderful occasion, and for my voice to be able to shine with the music in the company of great people :)

Look at the floor in this picture. I stood where the great musicians of Poland have stood - now celebrating the fact that I am part of a global Polish family. How lucky am I ! For many years I didn't have Poland but now I have a massive Polish family who continue to support my music. Simply wonderful ! :)

more info here :) Świętowanie 100-lecia Odzyskania Niepodległości przez Polskę w Ząbkowicach Śląskich

http://zabkowiceslaskie.pl/aktualnosci/_uniq_2m7mywHH,5069.html

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KATY CARR CONCERT : Piotrowice Nyskie Palace

Thanks to the great husband and wife team that are Jim and Anne Parton for hosting a most wonderful concert in their Palace at Piotrowice Nyskie. I had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed the event. To stay at this palace in Poland please boook and visit this website - www.booking.com/hotel/pl/piotrowice-nyskie-palace

Playing in the 16th Century Ballroom - Queen Elizabeth the First is rumoured to have visited here !

KATY CARR CONCERT : POLISH ABROAD IN LONDONDERRY SUPPORTED ALSO BY THE POLISH CULTURAL INSTITUTE , NORTHERN IRELAND

Thank you so much for the wonderful people of Northern Ireland and Polonia London Derry and Polish Saturday School Belfast for putting on a wonderful event which with the help and funding from Polish Abroad and the Polish Cultural Institute turned out to be a cross cultural event celebrating the friendship between Poland and Northern Irish Communities

Please find pictures with kind permission below. Thank you so much to Headmistress Beata Dabrowska of the Polish Saturday School in Belfast and Agnieszka Luczak Polish Abroad Coordinator for the wonderful event :)

Above photo : Polish Consul in Belfast, Senator, Konsul Anna Dzięciołowska, Polish Politician Joanna Fabisiak

Below fotos with students from the Polish Saturday school in Belfast foto : Marysia Zajac (on right :) in beaustiful yet very heavy Łowicz folkore costume - i want one ! ;) but it weighs over 5 KG !)

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KATY CARR CONCERT : Luxembourg

Thank you so much to the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Luxembourg and to all who helped promote my concert at QBOX Dudelange, in Luxembourg. It was a wonderful event and I was so pleased to be able to share my music with you all.

Thank you so much to the Polish Ambassador Piotr Wojtczak pictured below with his daughter after my concert

Pictured below with the Ambassador's wife Iwona Wojtczak

Luxembourg audience above - mixed crowd of many nations celebrating friendship with Poland through Katy's music :)

Merci and thank you so much to Q BOx and Grains de Cultures and the Polish Embassy in Luxembourg for organising this amazing event and Pia Libicka-Regulska Radca, Konsul and Iwona Wojczak for the koncert idea and to Agnes Berchem for realising the space at her gallery. Thank you also to Polonia Luxembourg for working so closely together to make this event a sparkling success :) Thank you to Alexander Smaga for doing the projections in cooperation with Hannah Lovell and White Gloves Films :)

I love you all and thank you again for being brilliant

See you soon I hope

Big love

xxx katy

Katy Carr is an award winning British recording artist and has released 6 albums. An Ambassador of Polish History in Great Britain, her recent albums. Paszport (2012), 'Polonia' (2015) are inspired by the Polish WWII experience. In 2016 Katy was awarded the Pro Patria medal for her humanitarian and musical work.