Katie May – Artist Bio

Katie May is a Maryland-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose work blends Americana, indie-folk, country-soul, and neo-soul, grounded in formal training, professional production experience, and extensive live performance.

Her musical foundation began in early childhood with classical flute training, earning first chair placement and competing at the state level, alongside school chorus participation and private piano lessons. She was selected for a county choral ensemble, performing at the Kennedy Center, and toured statewide. Katie continued her arts education at Thomas G. Pullen Performing Arts School, where she followed a performance-focused curriculum while also studying ballet, jazz, and theatre, performing solo and in group settings statewide. Her high school years expanded into street and club dance styles, with appearances in local music videos that further shaped her stage presence.

In early adulthood, Katie became deeply involved in worship ministry as a vocalist, recording and appearing on two worship albums for Julie Meyer and Cory Asbury. During this period, she taught herself guitar—supplemented by classical guitar lessons—and began writing original music. Her professional scope expanded through formal study and certification in live broadcast audio and video engineering with God TV, where she completed thousands of hours of live broadcast work supporting large-scale services. She became certified in live broadcast audio and video engineering and sang and hung out regularly with multiple bands and ensembles.

After returning to Maryland in 2011, Katie served as a vocalist with the worship band at Mid-Atlantic Community Church and as a lead and second vocalist serving their CR group for several years. Following a move to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, she temporarily stepped away from music to work multiple jobs, complete her education, and support her daughter.

When life stabilized, she returned to music independently—rebuilding her repertoire on guitar, attending open mics, and connecting with the local music community. This included several years of collaboration as a harmony singer, writer, and featured vocalist with an eastern shore band, performing at Severna Park Taphouse, Corah’s Corner, Rams Head Shore House, Pour House Pub, and Prospect Bay Country Club, and appearing as a featured vocalist on one of their singles.

After hosting a local open mic at Four Dogs Brewing (Easton, MD), Katie transitioned fully into an independent artist, focusing on original songwriting while re-embracing keyboard skills and incorporating ukulele as a compositional tools. She began recording her first EP and is currently working on her second. As a solo and featured singer, she has performed across Maryland and Delaware, including Crab Cake Factory Bayside (Ocean City), Yellowfin (Bethany Beach), Market House, 49 West, Latitude 38, Middleton Tavern, Stan & Joe’s (Annapolis), Patriot Acres, Alibi Gastropub (Centreville), The Main Stay (Rock Hall), Foxy’s Harbor Grille (St. Michaels), the BWI Airport Songwriter’s Series, and with the Annapolis Songbird Collective. She also appears regularly at open mics at Cult Classic (Stevensville), 49 West, Metropolitan, and Stan & Joe’s (Annapolis).

In 2025, Katie participated in America’s Next Top Hitmaker with Global Citizen, advancing to the top 10 out of more than 60 contestants in her group and placing 8th with her song “Every Day.” Her work has also taken her to Nashville, where she was invited to perform at The Local by an internationally touring songwriter alongside Grammy Award-winning songwriters, and at The Jackalope for an additional songwriting round.

In addition to her solo and collaborative work, Katie has remained active in ensemble settings, singing as an alto with Easton Choral Arts and the Christ Church choir, and as a mezzo-soprano with their contemporary church band. She is an experienced live performer, comfortable with extended sets of up to four hours and multiple performances in a single day, known for professionalism, musical sensitivity, and emotionally grounded songwriting.

Other than music, Katie has a life long career in business, sales, and accounting and currently works for an international organization in finance, as well as serves on the board of a non-profit organization. She is quite a foodie and enjoys cycling, travel and time with her family, as well as times of quiet meditation and prayer.