O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat

Teaching Traditional Irish Music

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Session Leaders

Our session leaders are selected from students, former and current instructors and invited guests who are veteran session players.  For more information about our nightly sessions led by instructors, go to PLAY ALONG SESSIONS.  For the regular sessions and a review of our session guidelines, go to SESSIONS.  See our SCHEDULE (PDF or Mobile-Friendly) for times and days of these events.  Here are session leaders for this year:

David Agee

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Multi-instrumental and Kansas native, David Agee, is a pillar of the Kansas City music community. Dave began his career playing blues and rock guitar in his youth then picked up bluegrass and traditional Irish music in his early twenties, splitting time between guitar, mandolin, and fiddle. Dave was a member of the first Irish band in Kansas City, Talisman, and was a founding member of Scartaglen, … [Read more...] about David Agee

David
Agee

Session Leader – Moderate Session  |  Guest Performer – Saturday Dinner

Joseph Beckey

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Joseph Beckey comes from a choral tradition until discovering Irish music at a pub in 2008. One of the musicians taught a class “Traditional Songs In Harmony” at the Center for Irish Music in St. Paul, MN.  After that, he was hooked.  He has taken numerous song classes as well as learning to play mandolin, guitar, bouzouki and bodhrán. Soon after learning his first chords, Joseph was … [Read more...] about Joseph Beckey

Joseph
Beckey

Workshop Presenter – Pub Songs Sing-Along  |  Session Leader – Song Session

Angela Botzer

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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

Angela
Botzer

Lecturer – The Irish Travellers’ Influence in Traditional Irish Music | Session Leader – Slow Session

Erica Braverman

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Erica Braverman has been playing the concertina since 2014 and teaching beginner lessons in Austin, TX for the past three years. Playing tunes and dancing with friends always makes her smile on the inside, but it took a while for her to learn to play her instrument and smile on the outside at the same time - one of her proudest moments was when she heard that "you don't look like you have lockjaw … [Read more...] about Erica Braverman

Erica
Braverman

Session Leader – Dance Friendly Session

Grace Broadhead

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Grace Broadhead is a fiddler originally from New Mexico and is now based in Nashville, Tennessee.  She found her love of Irish music through her older brothers, who handed down some CDs of Lunasa, the Chieftains, Gaelic Storm and several other Celtic groups. Grace is a member of The Southwest Ramblers, along with Dain Forsyth from Albuquerque, and Hughie Kennedy and Jason Turk from Cork, … [Read more...] about Grace Broadhead

Grace
Broadhead

Melody Player – Bodhrán, Bouzouki, and Guitar Classes  |  Session Leader – Lively Session  |  Guest Performer – Friday Dinner

Janis Deane

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Janis Deane, M.Ed., CCC-SLP is a certified Speech-Language Pathologist and has 40 years of experience working with patients who have voice disorders, swallowing disorders, chronic cough and vocal cord dysfunction. She specialized in working with singers and those requiring voice restoration following total laryngectomy. Janis is a classically trained singer, but also an avid instrumentalist. … [Read more...] about Janis Deane

Janis
Deane

Workshop Presenter – Vocal Health for Singers  |  Session Leader – Lively Session

Former Instructor – Whistle, Flute

2004, 2005, 2008, 2009

Paul Dryer

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Paul is no stranger to diverse music styles.  Originally from Kentucky, moving to Texas in the early 1960’s, his passion for music was ignited by the early 60’s rock scene.  Paul has played in rock, jazz, bluegrass, swing and gospel bands and is currently active in Irish-Celtic music as past president of the Traditional Irish Music Education Society and heavily involved with the … [Read more...] about Paul Dryer

Paul
Dryer

Workshop Presenter – Playing Irish Harmonica  |  Session Leader – Moderate Session  |  Guest Performer – Saturday Lunch

Michael Dugger

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Michael Dugger has been playing Irish music since 1982 when he was a founding member of the early super Irish American music group, Scartaglen. He was also a founding member of Sunrush and The Kelly Band. Though he started out in the music playing the stringed instruments, a left hand injury pushed him in the direction of the button accordion. He has been playing the box since 2001. He’s has shown … [Read more...] about Michael Dugger

Mike
Dugger

Lecturer – Wonderful Galway City from an Irish Musicians Perspective  |  Session Leader – Lively Session  |  Guest Performer – Saturday Dinner

Testimonials

Former Student

I look forward to this retreat now every year.  It keeps growing and getting better!  Items that were on my wish list were added this year and that shows me that you guys really do want this to be something long lasting and special.

Read all our testimonials…