Biography
and Awards






                 Kim McKee
A Colorado native, classical training was her foundation, but traditional folk music became her passion. In the late 70’s early 80’s traditional music was not that readily available, so she did her research by attending festivals, gathering unusual folk instruments, studying books, interviewing people from Ireland and Scotland, collecting stories and songs, having music sent from abroad. She was virtually obsessed! Kim has won numerous awards including the National Mountain Dulcimer Championship in 2002, and four time award winner at the Milwaukee Irish Festival songwriting contest.
Writing poetry, stories, songs and miscellaneous word endeavors, keeps the landscapes, people and experiences alive within her work.

 

 

            Ken Willson
Ken Willson grew up in rural Minnesota and North Dakota. The early musical memories for him were cherished local events like variety shows, church music, family-made music and other grassroots experiences. Self-taught and determined, he passed through several musical lives, performing with many rock, country, bluegrass and other types of bands. Winning performance awards in such faraway places as Australia, Ken has honed his skills on stage through decades of performance and dedication to his "roots" of acoustic folk music.

Willson & McKee
But how did this happen? How do two people from different states and backgrounds come together to create such a unique sound experience? Ken and Kim met in Phoenix, Arizona. Ken was the booking agent for a local acoustic performance venue, and Kim had to audition for him to perform there! Needless to say the audition went well, she got the gig, they fell in love with each other and the music life and immediately they began performing and touring their new hybrid style of music. Since that beginning, they have concentrated on providing excellent educational and cultural programs, residencies, lyceums and workshops, alongside energetic audience friendly concerts. A Willson & McKee concert is more than a performance; it is an evening with friends. There is a feeling of sitting by the fireside sharing music and stories, rich with history and good humor. Come away on the journey…
Willson & McKee Resume


20 Years Professional Touring
9 Professional Recordings
18 Years Artists in the Schools and educational programs (10 states)

Teachers/Presenters: Trinidad State College, Upward Bound Program 2010 (Traditional Poetry/song/storytelling, Celtic music basics, dulcimer building and performance, Ceili Dance)
Teachers/Presenters: Chalmers/Mackay Music School, Aberdeenshire Scotland 2009
Teachers/Presenters/Performance: Alcester Singers Festival, Warwickshire England 2009
CSU: Colorado Women’s Poetry Event: judge/performance/workshops 2008
CSU: Pueblo Campus: music major’s symposium/presenters, 2008
Composition Award: Walnut Valley Festival, National Championships, 2008
Awarded Non-Profit Status: for excellence in educational programming, through the ‘Huerfano
County Corporation’, 2008
Nevada Touring/Artists in Schools Roster: newly established roster, awarded 2008 to present
Presenters/teachers: Spanish Peaks Celtic Festival: Southern Colorado, 2005-present
National Folk Alliance: FARWest Conference/juried showcase artists/committee chairs 2005-9
Recording: “Passed by Here” chosen by El Morro National Park as theme recording for the site 2008
Recording: “One Lone Rowan Tree”: Chosen as a top 20 album by the National Championships,
Walnut Valley Festival: 2005
South Dakota Touring Arts/Artists in Schools roster: 2000-present
North Dakota Touring Arts/Artists in Schools Roster: 1995-present
Montana Touring Arts Roster/Artists in Schools Roster: 1995-present
Four-time Winners: Walton’s of Dublin/Milwaukee Irish Fest, “New Irish Song’ International
Songwriting Competition 2003-6
National Dulcimer Champion: 2002
Juried Showcase Artists: North Dakota Conference: 1998, 99, 00
Juried Showcase Artists: Arts Northwest (tri state): 1993,2004,2006
Juried Showcase Artists: Arts Beyond Boundaries (five state conference): 1997,98
Juried Showcase Artists: Montana Performing Arts Consortium: 1995,96,97,98,00
Presenters for Arts Educators continuing ed. credits: Nevada: 1998,99
Presenters for Arts Educators continuing ed. credits: North Dakota: 1997,98,99
Kennedy Center, Artists as Educators Completion: 1998
“ Genesis” Arts Conference: presenters, University of Montana: 1997


Duo Educational Highlights:


Average student contacts per year: 10,000
Nevada Reading Week Guest Artists: multiple Las Vegas Schools, 2007-present
Corrales Cultural Arts, NM: Pueblo Villages and Hispanic School outreach, 2007-present
Underserved Community/School Outreach: SD, ND, MT, ID, CO, NM, WY, OK
Indian Reservation and Indian Residential Schools: MT, SD, ND, NM
Parks and Recreation: summer programs, multiple states
Rialto Theater, Loveland, CO: summer “Kids at the Theater” programs
After-school Programming: multiple states
Cultural Programming: libraries, and cultural organizations, all states (for example, teaching Irish
dancing to a group of Jalisco Dancers in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and many others)
San Francisco School for the Performing Arts, and Lowell High School, San Francisco: requested programs for music, orchestra, choir classes
Largest number of students attending a program: 1,200, Casper Wyoming, ARTCORE project
Smallest umber of students attending a program: 1, Creede, Colorado, Arts Council project
Largest school residency work: 1250 students, Las Vegas, Nevada
Smallest school residency work: 12 students, Ft. Ransom, North Dakota
Glacier Orchestra/Chorale, pilot residency program
Private schools: Home Schools, Hutterite Schools, Special Needs Schools (Anne Carlson, Children’s
Care Hospital 2003, 2004, 2006, Children’s Home Schools and others) Waldorf Schools, Religious Schools, state hospital schools


Other Arts Achievements:

Education panelists: National Folk Alliance, Far West Regional Conference: 2006-07
Panelists: National Folk Alliance, Far West Reg: Artist Rep/career building, 2008-09
Elected Artist Representative for Wyoming Arts Alliance: 2006-08
Chosen top five Traditional Song Award, Song Writers Universe: 2006
Multiple Poetry Awards including: Writer’s Digest, Lunarosity, and others
Folk Artist Grant Recipient: Montana Arts Council, 1995
Second Place, National Dulcimer Championship: 1988
Overall Folk Musicians Award, top point winners: Estes Park Scottish Irish Festival: 1983
Three Time Colorado State Dulcimer Champion: 1982, 1983, 1984


Arts Education References:


Carolyn Duell: ARTCORE, Casper, Wyoming 307-265-1564
Carla Berg: Dickinson Schools, Dickinson, ND 701-456-0014
Lesa Dahl: Watertown School District, SD 605-882-6385
Jack Reynolds: Corrales Cultural Arts, Corrales, NM:: (505) 897-3351

Touring/Performance References:


CalTech Folk Music Society, Pasadena, CA: Nick Smith: nsmith@cityofpasadena.net (email only)
City of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV: Brian Kendall, bkendall@LasVegasNevada.GOV (email only)
Dahl Fine Arts Center, Rapid City, South Dakota: Darla Drew Lerdal: 605-394-4101
Arrow Education Foundation, Watertown, South Dakota: Waneen Polly: 605-882-6399
New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM: Bruce Vandevender: 505-646-3200
ARTCORE, Casper, Wyoming: Carolyn Deuel (307) 265-1564