Cara Wildman

Cara Wildman is a well-respected percussionist, pianist, dancer and bodhrán player from Dorchester, TX. Cara’s talents have led her to perform in a variety of musical ensembles and genres around the world including in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Argentina, Ireland, Canada, and across the United States. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Education from Texas Christian University, and a second Master’s in Irish Traditional Music Performance from the University of Limerick in Ireland. Cara has studied with bodhrán greats Jim Higgins, Eamon Murray, Martin O’Neill, Cormac Byrne, Colm Murphy, Colm Phelan, Robbie Walsh and Junior Davey, among others.

She has taught at some of the premier percussion/folk music schools in the world, including the O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat, John C. Campbell Folk School, Milwaukee Irish Festival Summer School, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), and given concerts and clinics at colleges and universities across the globe. Cara’s playing has garnered international accolades including winning the 2021 All Ireland Fleadh Fest — the first American ever to win in this category. Donal Lunny described her playing as having “great taste…as an artist she can be immersed in her playing while retaining perspective on its contribution to the music. The development of the bodhrán is an exciting work in progress. I think Cara is at the front edge of this development…”