Jew’s harp player/researcher/teacher and singer (I play no other instrument)

Born in Leicester and introduced to folk music in the 1950’s by BBC Radio’s ‘Rhythm and Melody’. Shown how to play the Jew’s harp by brother, John, in 1968; played with John and other brother, David, on ‘The Lark in the Clear Air’ recorded on Topic in 1974. Gave up for about twenty years, but returned with a vengeance in the mid. 1990’s. Now have a mission to promote the Jew’s harp in the UK, running workshops, writing articles and playing wherever the opportunity arises.

Began working career at Madame Tussaud’s, London, after graduating from Newcastle Polytechnic in Fine Art and Leeds Polytechnic as an art teacher (never taught full-time though). Started at MT’s as a sculptor, but helped form the design studio working at all the company’s sites. Highlight (nothing to do with MT’s) Getting a fibre-optic jacket on BBC TV’s ‘Tomorrow’s World’.

After eleven years moved to the York based company Heritage Projects (the builders of the Jorvick Centre) as head of Creative Design working on feasibility studies and concept design for projects in Europe and one in the Caribbean. Highlight: Leading the team that built a 2000 sq.mtr. temporary exhibition in Kiev, ‘British Life Today’, for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Part of the team that took over the Design/Project management from Heritage to form IDEAS, interpreting, designing and building exhibitions mainly in the UK. Highlight: Leading the team that designed 1/3 of LEGOLand, Windsor. As Director, developing the concept design for the University of Leicester and Leicester Council in their successful £23m bid for Millennium Funding of the National Space Centre.

Elected on to the National Council of the English Folk Song an Dance Society in 2002, with particular interest in promoting the Society. Elected Chair of the Council in 2005, stepped down in 2007. Now work as an administrator at Blackwell Publishing in Oxford, but also consulting on the interpretation of projects, including helping Oxford Castle Yard in their winning Heritage Lottery Fund backing for a £1,700,000 project. Joined the Board of the IJHS at Amsterdam in July; formed the UK & Ireland IoNAJHA (Islands of the North Atlantic Jew’s Harp Association) in August; became General Secretary of IJHS in October. Highlight: The freedom to research and promote the Jew’s harp.

In 2007 I organised the first Jew’s harp gathering in Oxford, which grew from a small conference and concert into something resembling a full-fledged festival during the three months it took to pull everything together. Highlight: playing first UK performance of Albrechtsberger’s concerto in D and being on stage with Spiridon Shishigin and around a dozen conference participants.

Michael Wright's Website