ABOUT

Joanne Saunders was educated at Preshil School Melbourne where she combined her love of the recorder with her love of working with wood. Later, after completing Oboe studies at the Victorian College of the Arts, Joanne persuaded renowned recorder maker Fred Morgan to train her. After completing a four year apprenticeship Joanne set up her own workshop in Daylesford and, after working in Europe, is now in Melbourne at The Abbotsford Convent where these beautiful instruments are made.

Joanne has become a highly respected recorder maker in the global sphere, continuing Fred Morgan's legacy. Her instruments are played by the most prominent concert performers and are in great demand. She has been featured widely in Australian Arts media and has received a Churchill Fellowship for international travel and research.

A copy of Joanne's Churchill Fellowship report can be accessed

Here.

THE DESIGN

Joanne specializes in making Baroque recorders after J Steenbergen Amsterdam 18th C. and also makes a Ganassi model after the Morgan design. Each instrument is individually hand crafted and many hours are spent ‘playing in’ and adjusting the voicing to produce a unique tonal characteristic.

THE TIMBERS

THE TIMBERS

AWARDS, SPECIAL PROJECTS, & PUBLICATIONS

All instruments are made from selected Honduras Rosewood (Dalbergia), Boxwood (Buxus Sempervirens), North American Maple (Acer Sap), and Australian Mulga.

Myer Foundation creative project award - 2012
Early music society award; Contribution of excellence to early music in Australia - 2010
Churchill Fellowship recipient - 2009
Austalia Council professional development grant - 1992
Australia council training grants (completing apprenticeship with Frederick Morgan) 1984, 1985, 1986

Master Makers by Danial Brüggen (Interview) - 2016
Black Arm Band instrument collaboration - 2013
Book-entry: Recorders Based on Historical Models - Fred Morgan; writings and memories. - 2007
Subject: Hand Made in Melbourne - 2006
Subject: Australian made, Australian played (Michael Atherton) - 1990
Book-entry: Journal of the Victorian Recorder Guild 'Reflections of a Recorder Maker - 1988