Brendan Power, born in 1956 in Mombasa, Kenya, is a harmonica player and composer who later moved to New Zealand. He discovered the harmonica during his university years at Canterbury University in Christchurch after hearing Sonny Terry play. Power taught himself to play by ear, leading him to focus on music over academia. In 1992, he moved to London and worked as a soloist in the Riverdance show for three years. His career includes notable collaborations with artists such as Mary Black, Paul Brady, and Sting, playing harmonica on albums like Ten Summoner's Tales and Way Out Yonder. Power has released over 20 albums, starting with Country Harmonica (1984). He has also recorded music for movie soundtracks such as the Oscar-winning Atonement (2007). His awards include winning the All-Ireland competition in 1993 and being voted International Harmonica Player of the Year by the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica in 2011/12.
