Loreena McKennitt

Loreena Isabel Irene McKennitt, born on 17 February 1957 in Morden, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, harpist, accordionist, and pianist.

She composes music blending world music, Celtic music, and oriental music. She draws inspiration from the history of Celtic peoples, her travels, and tales and legends.

She launched her career in 1985 with her first album Elemental. This was followed by To Drive the Cold Winter Away (1987), which continued the musical momentum of its predecessor, and Parallel Dreams (1989). After several trips to Europe and the Middle East, the singer released The Visit (1991), which brought her international recognition and saw the integration of elements characteristic of certain world music into her sound. She then released The Mask and Mirror (1994) and The Book of Secrets (1997), which further enhanced her prestige. Following the death of three loved ones in July 1998, McKennitt decided to reduce the number of her performances and did not release any studio albums until An Ancient Muse (2006). Four albums would follow: A Midwinter Night's Dream (2008), The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2010), Lost Souls (2018), and The Road Back Home (2024). She has released seven live albums between 1995 and 2022.

She has sold approximately 14 million albums worldwide, with several achieving gold and platinum status. Throughout her career, Loreena McKennitt has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She won two Juno Awards in 1992 and 1994 and a Billboard Music Award in 1997. The singer has twice been elected honorary colonel of the Royal Canadian Air Force and has received numerous decorations, including Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, Member of the Order of Canada, and two medals awarded during Queen Elizabeth II's jubilees.