Joanie Madden

Whistle Masterclass

Saturday 20 September, 15:30

St Andrew's Church Hall

Tickets £10

Joanie Madden is the Grammy-Award-winning whistle and flute player who has been the leader of Cherish the Ladies since its inception. Born in New York of Irish parents, she received her musical training early in life listening to her father and his friends play music at family gatherings and social events. Within a few years of taking lessons with Jack Coen she had won the World Championship both on the concert flute and whistle. She was also the first American to win the coveted Senior All-Ireland Championship on the whistle.

Throughout her stellar and luminous career, Joanie has amassed a plethora of awards for her contributions to promoting and preserving Irish culture in America. She was the youngest member inducted into the Irish-American Musicians Hall of Fame and was the youngest person - and only the second woman - to be inducted into the Comhaltas Traditional Musicians Hall of Fame.

Joanie is the top-selling whistle player in history, having sold over 500,000 copies of her three solo albums, but she is also in constant demand as a studio musician and has performed on over 100 recordings by musicians as varied as Don Henley, Pete Seeger and Sinead O’Connor.

About the masterclass

This masterclasss for intermediate/advanced players will offer a unique opportunity to learn from one of the best whistle players in the world. You will learn tunes while working on ornamentation, vibrato, style and swing.