Robert Zielinski & Manuela Centanni with Melinda Forsythe.

Join fiddler Robert Zielinski, flautist Manuela Centanni, and special guest cellist Melinda Forsythe for traditional music from Ireland and original music by Robert.

Robert and Manuela formed a duo in New Zealand three years ago, exploring the traditional music of Ireland and many of Robert’s original compositions.

Robert Zielinski grew up in the Perth hills, learning traditional Irish music since he was eight years old, first with Sean Doherty and later Mick Doherty. Mick was a member of a family of traveling fiddle players, storytellers and tinsmiths from Co. Donegal. Mick’s uncle was the iconic fiddle player Johnny Doherty, featured on many recordings and the documentary “The fiddler on the road”. At seventeen years of age, Robert moved to Ireland, where he spent 14 years living on the West coast. He has toured in the USA, Europe and Australia. He taught for three years at the Galway School of Traditional Irish Music and in 2000 he won Ireland’s Michael Coleman Traditional Fiddle Player of the Year Award.
Robert is also a violin maker and will be performing on a violin he made himself.

Italian flutist Manuela Centanni studied classical flute under the guidance of Massimo Pasi, receiving a Master with distinction at the Conservatory of Music in Bologna. Nine years ago she started playing traditional Irish music, and a few years later commissioned a wooden flute from Canadian flute maker Chris Norman. Manuela’s musical influences include Paddy Carty, Matt Molloy and Catherine McEvoy.

Robert and Manuela will perform many traditional tunes and Robert’s original compositions including excerpts from his hour-long Torbay Suite, due for release later in the year. The Torbay Suite was inspired by the pristine Torbay inlet and surrounding forests in Western Australia remote Great Southern region

Robert and Manuela will be joined by special guest Melinda Forsythe on cello.