Ian Wilkinson is from Wylie, TX and plays multiple instruments including banjo, fiddle, button accordion, mandolin, and bodhran.
Ian began learning traditional Irish music while attending The North Texas School of Irish Music. His first instrument in traditional Irish tunes was the fiddle. He then picked up on the banjo and went on to become a member of the Festival Band, made up of senior members from the school, playing both fiddle and banjo.
He competed in 2018, and again in 2019, in the Midwest Fleadh in St. Louis and Chicago, respectively, and placed first in banjo for both years. His first place wins each year has afforded him the privilege of competing in the 2018 and 2019 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Drogheda, Ireland, representing the Dallas area and the North Texas School of Irish Music.
Ian is also a member of the band Plectra with fellow NTSIM alum Sam and Arthur Hatch. The band debuted in 2016 playing for the Irish American Society and has since played at Trinity Hall Irish Pub in Dallas and The Celt Irish Pub in McKinney, as well as being dinner performers at The O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat in 2017. They are scheduled as regular Thursday night performers at the Celt through all of 2019, as well as other venues and festivals.
Ian is a member of the prestigious TIMES Session Players comprised of some of the most talented Irish musicians in the state of Texas, and performs regularly on Sundays at Trinity Hall and The Celt.