Xenith Handpan: First New Musical Instrument of the Century w/ Colin Folke

Discover the art, history, and craftsmanship of the handpan, a fascinating yet relatively unknown modern musical instrument.
For the past 20 years, Colin Foulke has been at the forefront of the Handpan world, evolving from an enthusiast to a teacher, tuner, and maker. A true pioneer in this young art form, he isn’t just passionate about Handpans—he’s a scale geek, designs sound models using math, and an unapologetic lover of spreadsheets.

Colin has performed on five continents, appeared on Japanese TV, exhibited at a TEDx event, and is a guest lecturer at Sonoma State. But he’s perhaps best known for revolutionizing Handpan-making by open-sourcing his hydroforming production method. A patented inventor, he recently surpassed the milestone of crafting 1,000 instruments—each meticulously made in Sonoma County. Colin will introduce the Handpan, explore its brief yet fascinating history, delve into the intricacies of its craftsmanship, and demonstrate the delicate art of tuning—offering a rare glimpse into the magic behind this modern instrument.
From Colin Foulke: “I have dedicated the last seventeen years to playing these instruments and the last twelve years to making them; it’s my calling. It is with deep intention, passion, and focus that I bring each instrument to its final form. My goal with every instrument I make is to retain as much control as possible and lead all its facets, the harmonics, the port, and the vessel itself, to resonate in harmony. The Xenith is the culmination of years of research and development. It represents a massive shift in how these instruments can be made and represents one of my biggest career achievements. The Xenith embodies everything that makes these instruments special; I’d love to make you one.”

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