Mickey & Michelle
Description
Prepare to be captivated by Australia’s most riveting harp and fiddle duo, blending breathtaking musicianship with original music full of wonder.
Descending from the mountains are harp and fiddle duo Mickey & Michelle, whose energetic and virtuosic performances have captured hearts throughout Australia and New Zealand. Celebrated for their intricate arrangements and heartfelt songwriting, Mickey & Michelle weave a gorgeous ‘chamber-folk’ tapestry of original Celtic music infused with vocal harmony and fiery improvisations.
Mickey & Michelle’s journey began in Aotearoa with a wild idea: to walk the length of New Zealand’s 3000km Te Araroa Trail for six months, performing concerts along the way. This experience forged a deep connection between their music, the natural world and the communities they encountered - a spirit that continues to shape their creative path.
Now returning to Aotearoa for their third tour, Mickey & Michelle bring with them new music shaped by years of travel, including their five-month Solace in Wonder Northern Hemisphere tour through Canada, UK, Europe and Iceland. Along the way, they hiked the 800km High Route of the Pyrenees, formed lasting friendships with musicians around the world, and continued to find inspiration in the landscapes and people they encountered.
With performances that move effortlessly between exhilarating instrumental journeys and moments of breathtaking reflection, Mickey & Michelle invite audiences into a world where adventure, storytelling and imagination meet.
Lineup
Michael O'Donnell
Michael O’Donnell’s compositional style balances the deep understanding of melody from his Celtic music upbringing with the rich harmony and the exploratory nature of jazz music from Europe, America and Africa. O’Donnell’s body of work encompasses orchestral, chamber music, swing band and educational commissions. Known for his distinctive left handed violin/viola playing, O’Donnell’s string-sympathetic compositions and arrangements have captured the attention and imagination of the Sydney Cello Quartet, The Dunedin Orchestra, The Wattleseed Ensemble, Melbourne-based Chamber-Folk trio The Neon Effect and many Australian schools and tertiary ensembles, with commissions for bespoke compositions and arrangements. In 2022, his composition “Get Set” for solo pedal-harp won the Commonwealth Community Music Initiative composition competition and was performed at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. 2024 saw O’Donnell collaborate with Sydney classical ensemble The Olive Trio on a performance of “The National” for oboe, violin and harp, and beginning work on a ten minute original work for cello quartet, commissioned by the Sydney Cello Quartet. Michael has recently completed his orchestral commission, ”Lullaby” which was performed by the Dunedin Collegiate Orchestra in June 2023. In 2024, Michael wrote 60 minutes of original music and arrangements of high profile Australian and international artists to be performed at the National Folk Festival to a standing ovation of 2000 seats. He is currently composing his first violin concerto for a 2027 international soloist. When not writing, Michael can (or can’t be) found in the Australian bush, enjoying his love of long distance hiking.
Michelle Doyle
Michelle is a classical and folk harpist based in Melbourne. Originally from the Bellarine Peninsula, she moved to Melbourne to study at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School. She was selected to perform at the VCE Top Class Season of Excellence and ‘Top Acts’ concert at Hamer Hall. Twice winner of the ‘Paddy O’Neill Award’, she has been involved in a number of bands touring the festival circuit, including the Port Fairy and the National Folk Festival. Michelle’s passion for Celtic music led to her to purchase a clàrsach (Scottish harp) and she enjoys collaborating with renowned traditional Scots singer Fiona Ross. In 2015, Michelle was awarded Face of the 2015 National Celtic Festival and travelled to Cape Breton to perform at Celtic Colours in partnership with Fèis Rois. Exploring her Irish heritage, Michelle was invited to perform in Shane Howard's production Exile: Songs and Tales of Irish Australia, a tribute to the influence of Irish exiles on Australian life. The show toured nationally, uniting some of Australia and Ireland’s finest artists and musicians, including; Paul Kelly, Leah Flanagan, Declan O'Rourke and John Spillane. Michelle enjoys blending teaching and performing. She teaches at a number of schools, including Geelong Grammar and Geelong College, as well as privately. She loves that the harp attracts disciples of all ages and has taught students from 5 to 80 and everywhere in between!
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