MELODY MAKERS - Key Persons
This is Andrew Connally from the Wirral. He is second generation Irish descendant of Grandparents from Mayo, Galway, Limerick and Tipperary. Music came across the Irish sea with his Grandfathers and was passed down to his father before landing with him. Andy plays the Flute, Tin Whistle, Piano and Bodhran. As a child he learnt to play Irish music in the old Irish Centre and from his Dad. He went on to compete in the Comhaltas Fleadhs and performed on the UK music scene with his Dad for many years. Andy still performs in a couple of bands with some excellent local musicians including Jo Pue/Richards, Andy Saunders, Anita Rochford and Chris Boland. For the last four years he has been helping teach Irish music to the next generation in St Michael's Irish Centre in Liverpool.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Director
- Founder / Musician
This is Joanne, Director and co-founder of Melody Makers. Joanne is a Full time Musician, Performer, Early Year's Music Specialist (Kodaly), Strings Specialist (violin) and a mum of two children. Since graduating from University in 2001 with a BSc(hons)Degree 2:1 she has undertaken extensive teacher training in Music Education with the Voices Foundation, Music Leader and the British Kodaly Academy to develop her teaching skills and has completed a PGCert(Music Education) Post Graduate Degree as part of a Masters Programme at Edge hill University. Jo set up her own business 'Melody Makers' in 2009 after the birth of her first child and has since been commissioned by Wirral LEA to provide Early Years Music Education across Cheshire and Merseyside as well as Celtic Music workshops, performances and Eco instrument making workshops. She has delivered many training packages and mentored Early Years Practitioners. Jo is also a freelance Strings tutor for Cheshire Music Service and Music for Life running the First Access Programme in Primary schools and also leads the Cheshire and Cheshire West Strings ensemble in Ellesmere Port. Joanne has a passion for Irish and folk music which stems from her Irish background. Joanne's main instrument is the Fiddle (violin) which she has played since the age of six, but she also plays ukulele, guitar, tin whistle, bodhran. Joanne has her own band called Calico which encompasses many styles from folk, country, bluegrass, Irish, contemporary and performs regularly at corporate functions and folk clubs and festivals. She has also collaborated with Liverpool based legendary singer songwriter John O'Connell (Groundpig) and his Simply Dylan Band. She has performed at venues such as the St Georges Hall, The Cavern, Palm House, Alexander's in Chester, The Brindley, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and has toured Spain.
Hi, my name is Mikey. I grew up in Liverpool and have been possessed with the fiddle since I first begged my parents for one when I was 6 years old. I graduated in Music at Lancaster University, where I specialised in composition and then took up a post as Musical Director for various youth theatre productions at the Lancaster Duke's Theatre. These days I'm back living in Liverpool and working as a full-time musician, touring with my band 'Ottersgear', working as a session-musician both live and in studio and playing fiddle with other various bands I'm involved with. I have spent these last few years playing fiddle with touring acts and travelling across much of Europe and the USA. Besides my passion for the Celtic traditions, I also have a love for American and French jazz fiddle styles and I was recently the subject of an article in the UK specialist fiddle magazine 'Fiddle-on'.
I have worked as a freelance Community Artist for the last 9 years. This has involved facilitating arts and crafts workshops with children, young people and adults in a plethora of settings. I have developed and delivered numerous projects in a wide variety of art and craft areas. I began my journey into Community Arts after attaining a first class degree in fine art, and discovering a deep passion for working with all sectors of society, particularly children. Although based on the Wirral, I have always had a strong affiliation with all things Celtic. A great deal of my childhood was spent to the back drop of Irish music, with my Mother being in a cielidh band. My father, who is a Celtic artist based in southern Ireland, taught me how to draw and paint the beautiful Celtic knot work designs which still influence my work today.