This will be Karen Ballew’s 13th year to attend the O’Flaherty Retreat, and she is very excited to be teaching the Gaelic Singing workshops! Karen’s love for sean-nós singing and songs in the Irish language inspired her to teach lessons in this music, which eventually led her to found The Gaelic Youth Chorus at The North Texas School of Irish Music in 2013. She credits Danny O’Flaherty (Karen’s … [Read more...] about Karen Ballew
Harp
Lexie Boatright
Alex Boatright is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, performer, and teacher known for her effortless musicality and sensitive musicianship on Harp and Concertina. Alex is the Artistic Director of the Baltimore-Washington Academy of Irish Culture, a non-profit that she founded together with Fiddler Mitch Fanning, which provides children in the DMV area with a rich education in traditional … [Read more...] about Lexie Boatright
Brianna Brown
Brianna Brown is a talented, young multi-instrumentalist from St. Louis, MO. She is a two-time All-Ireland World Champion. At age 11, she won the 2015 All-Ireland World Championship in the under-12 concertina, and in 2016, she won the All-Ireland World Championship in the under-12 mouth organ. Brianna is the youngest American to ever win a world title at the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, and the … [Read more...] about Brianna Brown
Sarah Copus
Sarah Copus is an award-winning, Billboard charting singer/songwriter and harpist. She has been performing and recording for over 8 years with her parent's platinum selling band, and more recently as a solo artist. For a musician under 16, she has had some extraordinary success: three albums hit the Billboard charts that feature her as lead singer, radio airplay across hundreds of … [Read more...] about Sarah Copus
Aislinn Gagliardi
Aislinn Gagliardi is an Irish harpist and composer based in Chicago who is sought after as a performer, teacher, and recording artist. Drawing from her background in Irish dance and influenced by a diverse musical range from classical to Cape Breton, Aislinn’s distinct style shines through her music in an open and honest way. Known for her syncopated and melodic accompaniment, her compositions and … [Read more...] about Aislinn Gagliardi
Eileen Gannon
Eileen Gannon has been lighting up the St. Louis music scene for many years. Eileen, a St. Louis native, is one of the top Irish harp players in the world. She has won numerous accolades including the highly coveted Senior Harp title at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (World Irish Music Championships). She has a bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from St. Louis University and a master’s degree in … [Read more...] about Eileen Gannon
Maeve Gilchrist
Described by one critic as “a phenomenal harp player who can make her instrument ring with unparalleled purity”, Maeve Gilchrist has taken the Celtic (lever) harp to new levels of performance and visibility. Born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland, and currently based in Brooklyn, New York, Maeve‘s innovative approach to her instrument stretches its harmonic limits and improvisational … [Read more...] about Maeve Gilchrist
Gráinne Hambly
Gráinne Hambly from County Mayo, Ireland is an internationally recognised exponent of the Irish harp, and is in great demand as a performer and teacher, both at home and abroad. Gráinne started to play Irish music on the tin whistle at an early age, before moving on to the concertina and later the harp. She lived in Belfast for six years, where she completed a Masters Degree in Musicology, awarded … [Read more...] about Gráinne Hambly
Therese Honey
Therese Honey’s childhood fascination with the harp blossomed into an exciting and successful career as a full-time harpist, recording artist and teacher. She has performed as solo harpist with the Chieftains, has been featured at the Chicago Irish Festival, the Milwaukee Irish Festival, the annual Carolan Festival in Keadue, Co. Roscommon, in addition to the North Texas Irish Festival, … [Read more...] about Therese Honey
Sue Richards
Sue Richards is a traditional Celtic harper who studied classical harp as a teen at Oberlin College and then Ohio State University. When she discovered Celtic harps, she immediately ignored the pedal harp and turned to the Irish and Scottish music of her heritage, winning the American National Scottish Harp Championship four times. She has played for Presidents Clinton and Bush, Queen Elizabeth of … [Read more...] about Sue Richards