Hazel Askew; vocals, melodeon
Hazel Askew is a singer, musician and composer from London who grew up
immersed in folk music and stories. She spent her childhood at folk festivals,
dancing and playing for Morris, Appalachian and Rapper dance teams and being
inspired by songs and ballads.
She followed her love of stories to Newcastle University to English Literature
with Music, where she gained a first class degree as well as the Harry Clews
Prize for her folk singing recital.
As well as playing with Emily as The Askew Sisters, Hazel spends her time
singing and playing harp with vocal harmony trio Lady
Maisery, who have released two critically acclaimed albums and were
nominated for a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award in 2011.
Hazel’s love of music and narrative has also led her to work as a
composer for film, theatre and dance. She has written music for stage productions
by companies including Darren Ellis Dance, The Hampstead Players and Shakespeare
in Styria. She recently composed the orchestral score for More Film’s
trilogy of fairy stories ‘Tales’, as well as a popular music
soundtrack for their upcoming film 'International Men’s Day'. She
recently scored the music and songs for Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre’s
series on Original Pronunciation at their new Jacobean Indoor Playhouse.
As well as performing on the folk scene, Hazel also sings and plays medieval
harp with Early Music groups such as The
Dufay Collective and The Artisans,
with whom she has played at Buckingham Palace, The Globe Theatre and live
on BBC Radio 3’s Early Music Show.
Hazel is also a keen folk music educator and regularly works for organisations
such as the EFDSS, Barbican Education, Folkworks, Dartington International
Summer School and Aldeburgh Young Musicians as well as freelance workshops
and lessons.