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
2012
Oisin McAuley
Oisin McAuley was raised in Carrick, County Donegal an area in rural North Western Ireland renowned as having one of the finest fiddle traditions of the 21st century. Later living in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, he learned from Ben Lennon, Seamus Sweeney and others before going on to study music at Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland and began performing with a number of bands including … [Read more...] about Oisin McAuley
Conal Ó Gráda
Born in Cork in 1961, Conal Ó Gráda has long been at the forefront of traditional Irish flute-playing and truly has one of its most distinctive sounds. A multiple All Ireland winner in his youth, Conal’s debut recording ‘The Top of Coom’ in 1990 is still regarded as a seminal recording of flute-playing. Conal takes the basic elements of traditional music and forges them into a personal style … [Read more...] about Conal Ó Gráda
Valerie Plested
Valerie is a native of San Antonio, and first began playing the tin whistle at the age of 14 after hearing Irish music for the first time. Soon after, she began taking fiddle lessons from Jim Fox of St. James’s Gate (All-Ireland 1986) in San Antonio. Valerie later joined St. James’s Gate playing the fiddle in 1991, and co-founded the innovative Irish band, Agus, in 1994. She now plays with the … [Read more...] about Valerie Plested
Eric Ryan-Johnson
Eric Ryan-Johnson plays Irish traditional fiddle and classical violin. He also teaches Irish traditional fiddle and Suzuki violin in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and has taught at workshops, schools and festivals. Many of his fiddle students play for local dances, and have participated in workshops and masterclasses with fiddlers such as Kevin Burke, Brendan Mulvihill and Liz Carroll. Eric has recorded with … [Read more...] about Eric Ryan-Johnson
John Whelan
Often hailed as one of the world’s best living Irish button accordion players, seven-time All-Ireland champion John Whelan was born to Irish parents living in Dunstable, England. He was raised in the vibrant London Irish music scene of the 1970s, learning his craft from such legends as Lucy Farr, Roger Sherlock, Paddy Taylor, Mick O’Connor, and his teacher, Brendan Mulkaire. John has received … [Read more...] about John Whelan