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Fionnuala Sherry

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Fionnuala Sherry
Background information
Born (1962-09-20) 20 September 1962 (age 62)
Naas, County Kildare, Ireland
GenresNew-age music
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Violin, vocals
Years active1984–present
Websitefionnualasherry.com

Fionnuala Sherry (born 20 September 1962) is an Irish violinist and vocalist.

Together with Norwegian musician Rolf Løvland, she makes up the Celtic-Nordic group Secret Garden, which won the Eurovision Song Contest 1995 with the predominantly instrumental piece "Nocturne".[1] As part of Secret Garden she has released several successful albums that have made the top 10 of Billboard's new-age charts. In 2010 she released her solo album Songs from Before.

Background

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Sherry's violin playing started at the age of eight. She graduated with honours from the College of Music of Trinity College, Dublin having moved to Dublin at the age of fifteen in order to continue her musical education. Her professional career started with a ten-year stint as a member of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

Sherry has collaborated with a wide range of musicians, including The Chieftains, Sinéad O'Connor, Van Morrison, Chris de Burgh, Bono, Wet Wet Wet, and Westlife. She has also recorded several Hollywood film scores with the Irish Film Orchestra, including A Room with a View, and The Mask.

Her instrument of choice, for both live and studio work, is an English John Edward Betts violin from 1790, with a Hill bow.

Other media

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Sherry has written and presented a musical children's television show on Irish national television, based on a concept she invented herself. In 2010 she released a solo album Songs from Before in Ireland.[2] The album was released in 2011 in the United States and Canada by Hearts of Space Records.[3]

Personal life

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She married Bernard Doyle, a businessman, in 2010.

Health struggles

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Sherry broke both her arms after tripping while walking in Dublin in February 2015. She said it may have serious implications for her musical career, but expressed confidence that she would return to full fitness.[4]

After more than one operation, Sherry was able to begin scheduling concerts at the end of 2015, and commence touring again in 2016.[5] Her experience with this serious injury has caused her to struggle subsequently with stage fright.[6]

In early 2019 Sherry was diagnosed with breast cancer following a routine screening, leading to the cancellation of a worldwide tour. An aggressive tumour was removed in the course of two surgeries, followed by radiation treatment, and a year of the drug Herceptin.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Thompson, Dave. "Biography: Secret Garden". AMG. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  2. ^ ""Songs from Before" Newly Released in Ireland". fionnualasherry.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  3. ^ "New music from Fionnuala Sherry of Secret Garden". Valley-Entertainment. Archived from the original on 12 October 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  4. ^ Barry Egan (8 March 2015). "'I know I'll play again' - Eurovision winner and fiddle player who broke both her arms". Irish Independent. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  5. ^ Fionnuala Sherry (8 December 2015). "The broken bones that put a musical career on hold". Irish Times. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  6. ^ Tanya Sweeney (3 December 2016). "Eurovision winner Fionnuala Sherry: 'My stage fright got so bad I felt like I was bungee jumping'". Independent.ie. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  7. ^ Eddie Rowley (29 November 2020). "Musician Fionnuala Sherry opens up about breast cancer diagnosis and losing mum". Sunday World. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
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Preceded by Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest
1995 		Succeeded by
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