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 Shanan Suding
I started playing flute at age 9 when our elementary band director brought instruments into our classroom to try out. I went home and told my mom, "I NEED a flute!" She laughed at my intensity, but didn't hesitate. We went that weekend and got me my first flute. Within a month, I'd breezed through the beginner book.
Fast forward about 16 years. Having been a very "paper trained" classical musician, I knew nothing of the folk music world, except that I loved Irish flute. I had no idea how they made a flute sound the way they did, but I loved listening. I met up with a hammered dulcimer player, Drea Leed, who led me into the world of folk music. She handed me a book of Irish tunes. My first thought (I kid you not) was "how do I make a performance off of tunes that are only three lines long?" So much to learn.
I started going to Irish Seisiuns when I moved to Phoenix in '99 and had a whole new world of music opened for me. I studied some with the Irish Cultural Center, and performed with the groups Celtic Breeze, Kenevar, Gypsy Waltz, and Aengus Og. I've also performed solo.
I'm now playing with Chris Boydston as The Knotty Harper Band. Chris and I are excited about working up some sets and having a lot of fun with this project. We don't take anything too seriously, but we do like to sound good! We blend well together, and I think that our joy comes through in the music that we play. We're looking forward to gigs, recording and lots of fun!  We hope you all join us when we get out there to show off our stuff!
Chris Boydston
I started playing classical piano at four. Many moons later I got hooked into the Irish and Scottish communities and discovered the Chieftains, the Dubliners, Dougie McLean and all kinds of great traditional Irish and Scottish musicians. The harp represents a poetic language for me. I love the music it produces. I love the reaction I get from people who have never seen one. I love what it can create in accompaniment to other traditional instruments. I'm excited about playing with Shanan. Harp and flute are a great combo just as Shanan and I make a good team.
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