… [Read more...] about Andy Balinsky
Lecturer – Music Festivals in Ireland
Current Instructors & Staff
Joseph Beckey
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
Workshop Presenter – Pub Songs Sing-Along
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
Lecturer – The Irish Travellers’ Influence in Traditional Irish Music
Aileen Bourke
Hailing from a musical family in Bonniconlon Ballina, is Aileen Bourke, a well established concertina player who prides herself in her North Connacht style of music. She is a graduate from the Irish Music & Dance course at University of Limerick where she received a first class honours in her degree. In recent years, she has played extensively throughout Ireland, the UK and … [Read more...] about Aileen Bourke
Core Instructor – Anglo Concertina | Lecturer – North Connacht Repertoir
2026
Sue Brotherton
… [Read more...] about Sue Brotherton
Lecturer – The St. Patrick’s Day Dilemma: Irish Step Dancers vs. Irish Trad Musicians
Clare Cason
Clare Cason began violin studies at the age of 4, having been born into a family of musicians. She attended the University of North Texas, where she was chosen as Outstanding Undergraduate in Music. Presently she holds leadership positions in the Sherman Symphony, East Texas Symphony, and the Dallas Bach Society. She became interested in Celtic music as a teenager through the … [Read more...] about Clare Cason
Workshop Presenter – Waltzes that Delight & What is a Mazurka, Exactly?
Former Instructor – Fiddle
2011
Sarah Collins
Sarah Collins is a fiddle player based in Baltimore with deep roots in the Boston traditional Irish and Scottish music communities. Sarah is a sought-after fiddle teacher in the Baltimore area, and has taught at a number of fiddle camps across the country, including Hanneke Cassel's Pure Dead Brilliant Fiddle Weekend, Katie McNally's Boston States Fiddle Camp, Baltimore's Irish Trad Fest, and the … [Read more...] about Sarah Collins
Core Instructor – Fiddle Fundamentals | Workshop Presenter – Playing Second Fiddle
2026
Sorcha Costello
Awarded with the prestigious Gradam Ceoil TG4 Young Musician of the Year 2021, Sorcha Costello is a traditional Irish fiddle player from Tulla Co. Clare and hails from a family emersed in traditional Irish music. Respected as a performer, teacher and composer, Sorcha has toured worldwide for over ten years and is in high demand on the Irish music festival circuit. Released in 2023, Sorcha’s solo … [Read more...] about Sorcha Costello
Core Instructor – Fiddle | Lecturer – An Exploration of the East Clare Style of Irish Music: Looking back, Moving Forward
2026
Emily Critz
Emily Critz is an Irish dancer with over 20 years of experience in a variety of Irish and percussive genres. She initially trained as a competitive step dancer until she transitioned to sets, ceílí, and sean-nós (“old style”) styles. Her dance repertoire extends from Ireland to include Quebecois step dance and French waltz clog which bring a remarkable blend of percussive expression to her … [Read more...] about Emily Critz
Workshop Presenter – Sean-nós Dance Workshop
Rick Cunningham
Multi-instrumentalist Rick Cunningham has played traditional Irish music for over 40 years, playing in several bands in the southern US during that time. He primarily plays mandolin and button accordion, and also plays bouzouki, guitar, and whistle. Rick placed 1st in solo mandolin in the Midwest Fleadh Cheoiland, competed in the All Ireland in 2006, and he has taught at several festivals and folk … [Read more...] about Rick Cunningham
Workshop Presenter – Getting Started with Recording
Former Instructor – Mandolin and Tenor Banjo
2006, 2009, 2014