Julia Stafford

Robert Zielinski learnt to play traditional music from his mentors Sean Doherty and later Mick Doherty in Perth. Mick hails from a long line of travelling fiddle players, storytellers and tinsmiths from Donegal. His Uncle, the renowned Johnny Doherty featured on Ireland’s RTE documentary “The Fiddler On The Road” and has recorded three solo albums.

At 17 Robert travelled to Ireland where he spent 14 years immersing himself in the music of the older players, and exploring the region including Scotland and the Shetland Isles. His study included 9 months in Feakle with P.J and Martin Hayes and 10 years under Andy Davey, master of the Sligo style of fiddle playing. Robert taught for 3 years at the Galway School of Traditional Irish Music and in the year 2000 Robert won Ireland's Michael Coleman Traditional Fiddle Player of the Year award. He has toured in the USA and in Europe. Robert plays airs, jigs, reels, strathpeys and many more traditional tunes.