Who’s CFoulke?
Colin isn’t just a handpan nerd; he’s a nerd’s nerd.
He’s a scale geek, can talk handpan history, designs sound models using math and loves a good spreadsheet.
Get to know him through interviews, podcasts, his episode on national TV in Japan, his shop tours, and his handpan timeline.
Episode 01 - Building and defending the handpan - with Colin Foulke
Who better to kick it off with than Colin Foulke. Colin has been a pillar of the handpan community since 2009 and as a player, a builder, and now a leading representative of the HCU (Handpan Community United).
In this episode, we hear all about Colin's early days with handpan and his friendship with Dante Bucci - then we fast forward a few years to his path to becoming a well respected builder and how he pioneered hydroforming only to open-source his findings to the entire handpan community.
He also walks us through all of the iterations of his brand - Xenith, Aether, Radix, CFoulke...
Colin gives a very important update in regards to the HCU and what the future holds for the handpan. Then we get to know him a bit more personally with some rapid fire questions - who would have thought he's also a lifeguard!
Colin’s Episodes of The Handpan Podcast:
Colin’s Episode of Lunch Therapy
HangoutUK Live Stream - Meet Your Maker
Why Did You Come To Japan?
Interviews with Sylvain Paslier
Colin’s Handpan Timeline
January 2007
Colin learns of handpans when a friend sent him a didgeridoo video. One click later he stumbled across this video. Another click then this video of Dante Bucci.
2007-2009
Colin devours all videos, publications, and online resources for handpans
Monday, Aug 17, 2009
Colin joins online forum at Handpan.org
October 2009
A friend of a friend loans Colin Hang #183, C Penta/Gong Diao
January 2010
Colin receives his first handpan, a prototype Halo from Pantheon Steel
September 2010
Colin attends HangoutUK, his first handpan gathering
December 2010
Colin’s first handpan performance
Colin posts ‘Handpan How-To’ videos at the request of Handpan.org members.
June 15th, 2011
Colin releases his first solo album.
July 2011
Colin attends and performs at the first US handpan gathering, Handpangea.
September 2011
Colin attends HangoutUK as a performer.
Colin runs first handpan technique workshop at HangoutUK
Meets David Kuckhermann
April 2012
Colin records first-ever DVD handpan tutorial series with David Kuckhermann
Colin travels to Russia to pick up his SPb Kurd9
Colin and David record first all-encompassing handpan comparison video.
June 2012
Colin and David release their DVD series.
September 2012
Colin attends HangoutUK as a performer.
December 2012
Colin released his ‘Play Now, Think Later’ composition and tutorial series.
January 2013
Colin embarks on his journey to learn to tune and make handpans
Tunes an old steelpan
Spends the next year crafting hybrid steelpans as a way to bridge the learning gap
July 2013
Colin records Linotune tutorial.
December 2013
Colin tunes a handpan for Cirque du Soleil.
January 2014
Colin makes his first handpan.
Voted to become an ‘elder’ member of Handpan.org
February 2014
Colin makes his second handpan.
It was performed on at Pantasia 2014.
Performed on in North Carolina by 8 Hands of Sound
Kyle Cox of Pantheon Steel plays it, questions retirement.
May 2014
Colin and Judith Lerner release Shop Sessions as The Dimples
Fall of 2014
Production of handpans starts under his name, CFoulke
February 2015
Premiers 13 CFoulke handpans at Pantasia 2015.
April 2015
The last maker to earn ‘Top Shelf’ category on Handpan.org
June 2015
Starts initial research of hydroforming.
August 2015
Achieves first hydroformed shell.
September 2015
Completes first hydroformed instrument, chooses the name Æther
Fall 2015
Begins production of the Æther
July 2016
Colin opensources his hydroforming technique.
2015-2020
In full production of the Æther
2016-2018
Colin has an apprentice
Explores initial idea for the Xenith
January 2019
Colin’s 2 part episode of The Handpan Podcast airs
Fall 2019
Development stage of the RADIX
January 2020
Colin is on national TV in Japan.
Starts development of the Xenith
April 2020
Colin premiers the RADIX.
Summer 2020
Continues RADIX production
Continues Xenith development
September 2020
Colin is a founding member of Handpan Community United
October 2020
First Xenith is completed. Proof of concept achieved.
Xenith production starts.
Colin elected as the official spokesperson for HCU.
January 2021
The Æther is retired
The RADIX is retired
February 2021
The Xenith is launched.