Joanna Wyld was born and educated in London before reading Music at New College Oxford, where she was an Instrumental Scholar. She taught music theory to the choristers of New College Choir, and was listed as one of the Women of Distinction in 25 Years of Women at New College.
Joanna then took a Masters degree (MMus) in composition at King's College, London and studied flute with Professor Clare Southworth at the Royal Academy of Music.
Earlier in life Joanna attained a mark of 100 per cent in her English Literature A Level, showing an already considerable ability with words. This skill was honed in dissertations on music written while at Oxford and KCL.
Joanna is an accomplished flautist, and was Principal Flute of all the major Oxford orchestras; she is also an experienced recitalist. While at Oxford Joanna was the joint winner of the Oxford University Sinfonia Composition Competition for her orchestral work Jethro Furber's Change of Heart, based on the novel Omensetter's Luck by William H. Gass. She has also orchestrated a Bruckner Motet for performance by the combined choirs of New College, Christ Church and Magdalen, Oxford in the Sheldonian Theatre, and has re-orchestrated two Mozart operas for performance by opera company Hand Made Opera. Her understanding of live performance, composition and arrangement and the wide range of pieces she has worked with, provide Joanna with a special insight into the music about which she writes.
Joanna Wyld is also an experienced editor. Between 2001 and 2007 she was Editor at Sanctuary Classics, where she edited and proof-read all notes and CD artwork, as well as writing press copy and designing sales information.
When writing for children Joanna has shown particular versatility, completing an entire note in verse for a disc narrated by Harry Enfield, as well as writing a short biography of Enfield, commissioned by his agent. On the strength of this release, Magpie's Susan Stranks asked Joanna to write a poem for the children's online radio station Fun Radio Live.
Joanna Wyld is passionate about music education. In addition to her writing and editorial work, she teaches music to pre-school children, and is a flute teacher with the Bromley Youth Music Trust, teaching in primary and secondary schools. Joanna is part of a trio comprising two flutes and a piano, called Trillium, with whom she performs at a variety of functions and special occasions.