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
Lexie Boatright is an award winning Concertina and Harp player and member of the breakout Irish Trad band, The Consequences. A sensitive and exciting performer, Lexie has performed widely on the festival circuit and taught at top summer schools across the USA. Lexie's concertina playing is known most for her vocal-inspired phrasing over a rich foundation of chording with … [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
Cormac De Barra
Cormac De Barra is a harper and television presenter and comes from a family of traditional Irish musicians and singers. He is the third generation of harper in the family and first studied with his grandmother, Róisín Ní Shé, in Dublin. He went on to study concert harp in the USA. As a traditional harper, Cormac has recorded and toured with his brothers Fionán and Éamonn in the family group … [Read more...] about Cormac De Barra
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
Deirdre Granville
Hailing from Dingle, Co. Kerry, a multi-instrumentalist and singer, Deirdre studied both traditional and classical music from a young age. She has toured and performed extensively worldwide and has featured on Radio, commercial recordings and TV performances both solo and with other celebrated musicians including Kerry Chamber and Youth Orchestras, Aoife Granville, folk singing group; Deluce’s … [Read more...] about Deirdre Granville
Gráinne Hambly
Gráinne Hambly from County Mayo is an internationally recognised exponent of the Irish harp, and is in great demand as a performer and teacher, both at home and abroad. She studied music at Queen’s University Belfast and also plays concertina. Gráinne has toured and recorded with various artists, including performances as far afield as Japan, Brazil, Colombia and South Korea as well as frequent … [Read more...] about Gráinne Hambly