Grace Broadhead is an 18-year old Irish fiddler from Sandia Park, NM who began playing the Irish fiddle when she was eleven. She is a member of two local bands, Albuquerque’s Duke City Ceili Band and Jug O’ Punch. In 2018 and 2019, Grace competed in the Midwest Fleadh. In 2019, her Newly Composed Tune “Chain Reaction” came in 1st place, affording her the opportunity to compete at Fleadh Cheoil … [Read more...] about Grace Broadhead
Session Leaders
Our sessions are conducted by veterans of our Irish music community and some of our instructors. See our SCHEDULE for times and days of these events. Here are the leaders of the scheduled sessions:
Shay Black
Shay Black is an avid songcatcher, musician and singer and is known for his extensive knowledge of songs and music from the Irish, English, Scottish, and North American traditions. Born in Dublin, Ireland, he moved in 1994 to Berkeley, CA from Liverpool, where he had lived for the previous twenty years. While in Liverpool, he toured and recorded with Irish band Garva, the celebrated Stan Hugill … [Read more...] about Shay Black
Instructor – Singing | Enrichment Class – Irish Influenced Songs of the Sea | Lead Song Session
2016, 2022
Angela Botzer
A Washington, DC native, Angela Botzer has played traditional Irish music on the fiddle in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia area since the early 1980’s. She was a member of the DC-based bands Sodabread, and The Hedgerows, and has played for numerous ceilis and contradances. Angela has also had performances at the Irish Embassy in Washington, DC. When living in Oklahoma City, OK, she … [Read more...] about Angela Botzer
Workshop – The North Wind | Lead Moderate Session
Dermot Byrne
Dermot Byrne hails from the Inishowen peninsula of Co. Donegal, the most northerly part of Ireland, and has played accordion from the early age of four. He learned from his father Tomás O’Beirn from Teileann in South West Donegal who is an enthusiastic promoter of the tradition. Dermot at the age of only seven had already achieved an All Ireland Title at the Buncrana Fleadh Cheoil … [Read more...] about Dermot Byrne
Instructor – Button Accordion | Session – Playing Tunes with…
2022
Yvonne Casey
Yvonne Casey is one of Co. Clare’s most distinctive fiddle players. She grew up surrounded by the richness of Clare music and plays in a very unique soulful style. Sitting in sessions from a very young age she discovered the joys of Doolin as a teen, where she met and played with legendary musicians such as Kevin Griffin and Eoin O’ Neill. In the 1990’s the band The Ceili Bandits was formed, … [Read more...] about Yvonne Casey
Instructor — Intermediate Fiddle | Session – Playing Tunes with…
2018, 2022
Rick Cunningham
Multi-instrumentalist Rick Cunningham has played traditional Irish music for over 30 years, playing in several bands in the southern US during that time. Concentrating primarily on mandolin and button accordion, he’s also been known to play tenor banjo, bouzouki, guitar, and whistle. Rick won Solo Mandolin in the Midwest Fleadh Cheoil in 2006, and has competed in the All Ireland. In addition to … [Read more...] about Rick Cunningham
Former Instructor – Mandolin and Tenor Banjo | Guest Concert Performer | Lead Lively Session
2006, 2009, 2014
Tess Hartis
Tess Hartis is a South Carolina native who now lives in Houston, TX. Her technical mastery of the violin shines in the worlds of classical music, early music, and the Irish music scene. Tess began studying the violin at the age of 8, and developed a love for Irish fiddling during college after being introduced by her friend Seán Heely. She spent her college years learning Irish fiddling through … [Read more...] about Tess Hartis
Melody Player for Guitar Classes
2022
Rick Holt
Texas based percussionist, Rick Holt, immersed himself in the Irish music culture after he discovered the engaging sound of the bodhran in the early 2000’s. Rick has been playing drums since the age of 6 and earned his bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Troy University. He has performed a variety of musical styles, from classical to rock and musical theater. Recently, as a … [Read more...] about Rick Holt
Instructor – Bodhrán Fundamentals | Lead Bodhrán Friendly Session
2018, 2022
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
Former Instructor – Harp | Lead Harp Circle | Guest Concert Performer
2007, 2008
John Liestman
John Liestman has been playing Irish traditional music on the tenor banjo, mandolin, and uilleann pipes for over 30 years. He taught mandolin in 2011, 2012 and 2015 at the prestigious O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat, at the 2015 St Louis Tionol, and is an instructor with the Houston School of Irish Music. Over the years he has been a member of Terry and the Pirates, Claddagh (featuring Olcan … [Read more...] about John Liestman
Former Instructor – Mandolin, Tenor Banjo | Workshops – ABC Tune Notation and Tools & Retreat Tunes Played Slowly | Lead Slow Session
2011, 2012, 2015, 2017