Abstract Vibration induced by the periodic shedding of vortices from the surface of a flexible cylinder is controlled actively using an independent modal controller. The controller utilizes piezo-electric actuators and sensors, placed at critical locations, to generate the control action necessary to attenuate the vortex-induced vibration of the dominant modes. A multi-mode of vibration model, based on the wake oscillator approach, is developed and validated experimentally using a 3·175 cm diameter cylinder tested inside a low speed wind tunnel. The performance of the active controller is obtained at various flow speeds and controller parameters. It was found that the controller is effective in attenuating the transverse vibrations of the cylinder by approximately 40%, for the flow speeds considered.