Josephine Alexandra Mitchell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Josephine Alexandra "Zandra" Mitchell
Born	Josephine Alexandra Mitchell 22 July 1903 Dublin, Ireland
Died	23 November 1995 Donegal, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Known for	saxophonist

Josephine Alexandra Mitchell (born July 22, 1903 – died November 23, 1995) was a very important musician. She was Ireland's first professional female saxophonist. This means she was the first woman in Ireland to play the saxophone for a living.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Josephine was born in 1903 in Phibsborough, a part of Dublin, Ireland. Her family was very musical. Her father, Joseph Edwin Mitchell, was a conductor at the Theatre Royale. He also worked for the Ordnance Survey, which makes maps. Her mother was Gertrude Elizabeth Woodnut.

Learning the Saxophone

Josephine started playing the saxophone when she was young. She came from a family that loved music. She performed her first show when she was only 11 years old. Imagine playing a big concert at that age!

Becoming a Professional Musician

Josephine's musical journey really took off when her brother, who was also a musician, took her on tour. They traveled to London, England. This helped her become a famous performer. She started using the stage name Zandra. Her friends also called her Zandra.

Touring Europe

An agent in London offered Zandra a special chance. She could join an all-girls band that was touring Switzerland and Germany. This tour took her through Germany during a very important time in history. She saw the rise of a leader named Hitler.

Playing with Jazz Legends

During her career, Zandra played alongside some of the biggest names in jazz music. She performed with famous musicians like Coleman Hawkins. She also played with Jean ‘Django’ Reinhardt, a legendary guitarist.

Life After Touring

While Zandra was in Berlin, Germany, she had a daughter. She named her Constance Alexandra. Later, she decided to let a Russian couple adopt her daughter. This was a big decision for her.

Returning to Ireland

To help her leave Germany during a difficult time, Zandra married a Belgian man. After this, she returned to Ireland. She went to live in a family home in Rossnowlagh. This town is in Donegal, a beautiful part of Ireland. She had spent childhood holidays there.

Zandra lived in Rossnowlagh for the rest of her life. She was a very private person. She never tried to find her daughter. However, she made sure to leave money for her daughter in her will. Zandra passed away on November 23, 1995. She is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.

Zandra's Story in a Play

Zandra's interesting life story has been turned into a play. It is called Zandra, Queen of Jazz. The play was written by and stars Roseanne Lynch. It was first performed in November 2019 in Dublin, Ireland. The play was produced by Darn Skippy Productions. Katherine Soloviev directed it, and Richard Lennon created the music and sound.

See also

• List of Irish musicians