Amy Richter Penington, a two-time Midwest Fleadh Cheoil champion on the bodhrán, has been performing Irish music since 2003 and teaching since 2007. Most notably, Amy has toured the United States for several years with the world-renowned trad supergroup, Danú. She accompanied them on their televised performance at the 2019 Temple Bar TradFest in Dublin and can be heard on two of their albums, Ten Thousand Miles and An Emerald Isle Christmas.
She’s also graced the stage with Lúnasa, Natalie Haas and Alasdair Fraser, John Whelan, John Williams, Liz Carroll and toured the country with Kerry Irish Productions’ performance of “An Irish Christmas.” Amy is a founding member of áthas (Irish for “joy and happiness”), a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based band proud to be entertaining their fans since 2005.
After studying abroad at the University of Limerick, Amy went on to earn her degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. A highly sought-after instructor, Amy has taught both in the United States and Ireland. Locally, she has been a longtime faculty member for the Milwaukee Irish Fest School of Music. Abroad, she’s taught alongside some of the greats both at Junior Davey’s Bodhrán Academy in County Sligo and virtually at the Búla Buzz international bodhrán summer school. Within the U.S., she’s taken the helm for the rhythm workshops at Alasdair Fraser’s highly acclaimed Scottish Fiddling School in the Redwoods of California, Valley of the Moon.
Most recently, Amy released a bodhrán tutorial in partnership with Hal Leonard titled, Hal Leonard Bodhrán Method. A tutorial designed for anyone just learning to play to those who want to brush up on their skills. The book includes over two and a half hours of video instruction. To follow Amy on her travels, inquire about further instruction, purchase a tutorial, or see if she’s playing in a city near you, please visit amyrichter.com