Joel Sanderson

Scotland

Joel Sanderson was brought up in central Scotland in a small town where his father made stringed instruments. He started playing music at the age of four on a viola which his father put a cello spike on to turn it into a miniature cello. One of a family of six children who all play music, they had a family string quartet for many years. He has performed on cello and double bass with Arabic, Jewish and Hungarian musicians who live in Edinburgh, as well as Scottish and English songwriters and musicians. He also enjoys the large scale performance art projects that he has been musically directing for many years.

Theatre work is one of his loves, once taking him to Broadway in a children's show that promenaded round an elaborately dressed theatre from the pit to the gods. This year, an enthusiasm for viola has taken over and Joel has been getting to know one of his fathers' instruments for the first time in his life. Acknowledging no boundaries in the world of music, Joel is a fascinating and entertaining musician and performer. We are happy to welcome him to Celtic Colours as he performs with Sarah McFadyen.