Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
"Catherine Marie Charlton has a unique and beautiful dedication to composing for the piano." - George Winston, Grammy-winning solo pianist
"Catherine Marie Charlton's passion for what she does with her music transcends time and space. Her integrity of spirit and commitment to the moment is impressive. I look forward to hearing more from this young composer/pianist.” - David Darling, Grammy-nominated master cellist
"River Dawn is one of those extraordinary solo-piano albums that sing to my heart. The music is filled with a gentle, tranquil serenity that had me in tears within minutes of putting it on. I had tears of gratitude for the exquisite beauty with which Catherine Marie Charlton imbues her music and tears of joy that I had found such a precious gift for my heart. Indeed, even the hardest of hearts will begin to soften with the first notes." - Steve Ryals, New Age Retailer
“It was fun to have you perform here and I really enjoyed your concert. Your improvised pieces on the audience phrases was a big hit. You and Jody work so well together ...it was fun to watch the musical thoughts flow from one to the other. You play beautifully and your songs capture many emotions.” - Priscilla Johnson, Performing Arts Coordinator, Longwood Gardens
“The concert was fantastic— one of the best I have ever seen anywhere!” - Eric Tabor, Artistic Director, Piping Plover Music
“Charlton is a performer of grace, creativity, and dexterity who transforms her concerts into a unique evening for her audience while conveying her natural warmth and tremendous artistic presence.” - Alfreda Clinton, Director, Downs Cultural Center
“...one of the quietest audiences I can remember...the music compelled them to listen, instead of chat through their picnic dinners.” - Director, Malaga Cove (CA) Summer Concerts on the Library Lawn
"The Undershore... gives contemplative music its definition. Charlton has a passion for her music and it is evident by the power she uses in her playing.... It is the kind of music that permits a solution to a complex problem to pop into your head without thinking about it...." - RJ Lannan, New Age Reporter
"With new age piano albums a dime a dozen, it's a challenge to find an artist who reaches beyond the watery backdrops and excessive arpeggios and follows through with the most important aspect of any style of writing- the musicality. Here is an artist who understands that when audiences want new age, they aren't necessarily willing to give up the musical direction and expression that leads and guides the ear. These multi-dimensional pieces [on THE UNDERSHORE album] by Charlton have harmonic and structural roots in Classical piano repertoire, giving her work an insightful and beautifully intricate quality. True, her music is still relaxing, soothing and freeing but you will remain engaged all the same. The antithesis to rambly, aimless new age frivolity." - Tamara Turner, CDBaby
“I had promised my husband we could leave at intermission to go watch the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl playoffs, but now he wants to stay for the second half!” - Fan at January concert
Discography
Four albums:
THE UNDERSHORE, 2004
#3 NAR instrumental music radio charts, playing on over 200 stations worldwide, including on the show Echoes, syndicated on PRI
RIVER DAWN: PIANO MEDITATIONS, 2001
#3 NAV instrumental music radio charts; nominee for Best Solo Instrumental Album in the Just Plain Folks Music Awards
JEWELED RAIN, 2000
Winner 3rd Place Best Solo Instrumental Album, and 4th Place Best Solo Instrumental Song (for "Love Potion #235") in the Just Plain Folks Music Awards
STRANGE ATTRACTORS, 1995
"die Sonne scheint, die Voegel singen..." featured on the Apple MacOS 7.5 operating system, distributed on millions of computers worldwide. "Fuzzy Boundaries" (a commissioned work) featured at mathematics symposiums in Brazil and Croatia.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Pianist and composer Catherine Marie Charlton has actively studied music since age 8, when she practiced so much her parents often had to ask her to stop. Now, she is on the Delaware Division of the Arts Performing Artist Roster, and has received their prestigious Individual Artist Fellowship three times--for Solo Recital in 2000 and 2004, and for Jazz Performance in 2002. She has performed in Europe and South America, and throughout the U.S.. Charlton and her music have been profiled in several national publications, including Southern Living and GLAMOUR magazines.
Charlton played her commissioned work "A Dance for Argentina" in Buenos Aires, and was the featured artist at the Philadelphia Kimmel Center's First Anniversary Celebration, preceding a concert by solo pianist George Winston. In 2003, Charlton performed in concert with Grammy Nominee cellist David Darling. In August 2004, she performed at the NARM conference, whose roster of 34 artists included Tears for Fears, Chick Corea, and They Might Be Giants. Her appearance was one of 15 highlighted in Billboard Magazine as a noteworthy conference act.
Charlton’s fourth piano album, THE UNDERSHORE, features flutist Nikkos, who has 21 Cd’s on Japanese major record labels, and his own Nikkos Music. The CD is being played on over 200 radio stations worldwide, as well as on the show Echoes, syndicated on Public Radio International. The album debuted at #3 on the NAR instrumental music radio chart for August 2004, and remained at #3 for September. RIVER DAWN also debuted at #3 on the instrumental music radio charts, in Oct. 2002, placing above new releases from Grammy winners Kitaro and George Winston. JEWELED RAIN was honored in both the Best Solo Instrumental Album and Song categories at the 2001 JPFolks International Music Awards. In addition, Charlton's music was distributed with millions of Apple® computers worldwide, and her song “Fuzzy Boundaries,” commissioned in honor of the 30th anniversary of mathematical Fuzzy Logic, was featured at symposiums in Brazil and Croatia.
Chuck Elliott, of Philadelphia's WXPN-FM says, "Ranging from simple, yet elegant, to both catchy and complex, Charlton's compositions fulfill much of what we hope for from the music…to be entertained, captivated, educated, and healed.”
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