HarmonicaUK Online Festival 2026

Isabella Krapf

Isabella's Biography

Experience the chromatic harmonica with Isabella Krapf, one of Central Europe’s leading virtuosos and a captivating educator with an international career spanning major European stages, jazz, Bossa Nova, world music, and distinctive cross-cultural collaborations.

Based in Vienna, Isabella brings warmth, expertise, and musical imagination to every session. This is a rare opportunity to learn from a true specialist who opens up the expressive colour, character, and musical possibilities of this remarkable instrument.

Isabella's Workshop - Chromatic harmonica: back to the basics

Improve your technique for smooth playing with puckering. The harmonica is the only breathing instrument in the world, and many players use too much pressure and too much air, which results in an exhausting style of playing. Especially "breathing in " can be really tricky on the harmonica. Also, with puckering technique, there are very good ways to slide smoothly on the mouthpiece. With that, you can play perfect single notes and save air with every phrase you play. Let us improve your basic skills so you can concentrate on your musical expression and really enjoy playing in the future.

Joe Filisko

Joe's Biography

Joe Filisko is one of the world’s most respected diatonic harmonica players, teachers and customisers, widely recognised for his deep knowledge of traditional blues and roots harmonica styles. A professional teacher since 1992, he has taught and performed on five continents and was named Harmonica Player of the Year by SPAH in 2001. His influential Filisko Method draws on decades of study and transcription of historic recordings, with a particular focus on tongue blocking, tone and the expressive possibilities of the harmonica. Joe has contributed to major publications and documentaries on harmonica and blues music, and his work as a customiser has influenced many leading players, technicians and manufacturers. HarmonicaUK is delighted to welcome Joe Filisko to its online festival on 27 September 2026.

Joes's Workshop - The Filisko Method for playing the Harmonica

 Joe's study and focus has been the big sound, tone, and layers of traditional styles, and he hopes to impart this in his workshop.

Sean Spicer

Sean's Biography

Sean Spicer is a harmonicist, whistler and flautist from Bristol, performing largely in the English and Irish traditions, on tremolo, diatonic and chromatic harmonica. Sean is a National Youth Folk Ensemble alumnus (and to date their only harmonicist), and was a Comhaltas All-Britain champion and All-Ireland finalist in the mouth organ and miscellaneous categories, and a former champion in the HarmonicaUK competitions.

Seans's Workshop

I would like to present a workshop on English traditional harmonica and its many styles, taking people through the different traditions present in different areas of England. I will talk about notable players from each area, and will cover mostly diatonic and tremolo harmonica playing, with reference to chromatic harmonica where it appears. The workshop will include some demonstration playing from me for each style, and I will allow plenty of time for questions from the attendees at the end.