Marco Cannavò

Marco Cannavò is a hurdy-gurdy player and multi-instrumentalist dedicated to medieval and traditional music. He studied hurdy-gurdy with Steve Tyler, founder of the medieval duo Misericordia, and continues to refine his practice under his mentorship. They actively collaborate on a shared medieval project that explores the music of medieval Europe and performs across the UK. In May 2024, Marco and Steve released the album Vexilla Regis, featuring instrumental interpretations of songs from the 12th to the 14th centuries, with the hurdy-gurdy as the leading instrument.

He also collaborates with other musicians, including Ricardo De Noronha, percussionist and multi-instrumentalist with over twenty years’ experience and a founder member of Troubadouros, a band performing in Portugal and throughout Europe, and Katy Marchant, bagpipe and recorder player, founder and director of the Daughters of Elvin: Medieval Music and Dance Theatre Company and co-founder with Steve Tyler of the band Woodwose, in which Marco also occasionally performs. Katy also featured on Vexilla Regis, playing bagpipes and recorder.

Deeply connected to his Southern Italian heritage, the tambourine holds a central place in Marco’s musical identity and in the traditions of Southern Italy.
He is currently studying the tambourine, exploring medieval rhythms like the Saltarello, as well as traditional rhythms from Southern Italy and the Middle East, with percussionist and music therapist Domenico Candellori, whose work spans Afro-Cuban, Middle Eastern, North African, and Italian traditional music.

At present, Marco continues to pursue his passion for medieval music, sharing it with audiences through live performances and recordings.