Kitty Amaral

Kitty Amaral began her love for Old-time and Bluegrass Music at age 6. Living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwestern Virginia, she was exposed to many of the genre’s greatest players and scholars. Several of whom took Kitty under their wing to teach her the nuance of this unique blend of sounds. The musician’s of the community relished in the music with such a passion that it was quickly realized by Kitty just how much it touched the human spirit. In 2013, on a whim for a summer fiddle contest, Kitty formed the band; “Kitty & the Stray Cats”. The lineup included professional musicians: Kyle Dean Smith; former banjoist/ guitarist, Tom Mylet; banjo/guitar/mandolin, and Donna Correll, bass/vocals for the The Wolfe Brothers. Kitty & the Stray Cats Band was advised by Old-time fiddler/scholar/teacher, Jerry Correll, who coached Kitty with tune selection and general band performance suggestions. Her debut solo old-time album, Fiddle Gems, was produced by Jerry Correll under Kitty’s own independent label, “StringDreams”. The “Fiddle Gems” recording includes members of Kitty & The Stray Cats Band; and other guests such as Wayne Henderson, Carl Jones, Adam Hurt, Ron Mullennex, Steve Kilby and Jerry Correll. Kitty & the Stray Cats Band plays venues across the southeastern US. In 2014, Kitty formed a bluegrass youth band with four other players living in the region of western North Carolina and Southwestern Virginia. These members having all played since an early age, already have a great love for bluegrass music. The members coined the name, ShadowGrass Band. based off the concept of them playing music in the shadow of Bill Monroe, Father of Bluegrass Music. Please look for ShadowGrass Band in the future playing the regions of SW Va, The Crooked Road ,Western NC and Tennessee. With goals and aspirations very high, Kitty Amaral, is well on her way in continuing the tradition of old-time and bluegrass music. She has been awarded in many contests and received the title of ‘Youth Ambassador’ for MerleFest 2014, 2015. She has played The Grand Ole Opry, MerleFest, Houstonfest, WAMU Bluegrass Country Radio/ Washington DC, WFDD Across the Blue Ridge Tour, The Blue Ridge Backroads Radio Show, Blue Ridge Country Radio WBRF of Galax, Va, PBS Song of the Mountains Show live from the Lincoln Theater, The Wayne Henderson Festival, The Blue Ridge Music Center of The Blue Ridge Parkway Association, and Heartwood Center of The Crooked Road Association. In 2012, Kitty was one of three students who were given title from the prestigious Davidson Institute Fellows Scholarship for her project called Fiddling From the Heart on The Crooked Road; Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail. This project included an in depth essays and video taping of historical tunes.Her smooth vocals and expressive violin/fiddle technique;combined with an early love for the music deliver the beauty of these genres to listeners with much color and light. Many thanks for your support of Kitty Amaral and this music!