George Keith - Fiddle
George grew up playing classical violin, but was drawn to Irish music in the early 1990s. He learned to play traditional music between Chicago and Boston, and has since won both North American Irish fiddle titles. More recently, George has performed as a member of Grammy Award-winning Tim O'Brien's band "The Crossing", as well as Robbie O'Connell and Aoife Clancy, and appears on the DVD of WGBH's A Christimas Celtic Sojourn, Live.
Tina Lech - Fiddle
Tina is a North American Irish fiddle champion who has toured with Michael Flatley's "Lord of the Dance" troupe and is one of the leading Irish fiddlers in Boston. Tina began learning the music 20 years ago from renowned New York fiddler Jimmy Devine, and has performed regularly in Ireland and America.
Cara Francowitz - Fiddle
After residing in Galway and cutting her teeth among the local musicians there, Cara returned to the U.S. to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston and graduated in 2006
with a B.M. in violin performance. Cara has appeared all over the U.S. and Europe as a featured guest with artists such as the Three Irish Tenors, The Chieftains, Mustang Sally and Ceili Rain.
Regina Delaney - Harp
Regina is an Irish harper, singer, and dancer. In the United States, Regina has studied Irish harping with Aine Minogue and in Ireland with Janet Harbison and the Belfast Harp Orchestra. Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann awarded Regina a scholarship to study the harp in Ireland as part of their Living Traditions Award. In 2003, Regina qualified for the All Ireland Fleadh in Harp and Vocals.
Christian Stevens - Anglo Concertina
Christian "Junior" Stevens has been playing traditional Irish music on the button accordion and anglo concertina since the mid 90s. He received a degree in music from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, and is a regular at sessions and dances throughout New England. He teaches extensively around New England, has performed at various prominent festivals throughout the country and competed at the 2000 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
Shannon Heaton - Flute/Whistle
Shannon began her music career in Chicago, where she performed with some of Chicago's finest traditional playing while obtaining a degree in ethnomusicology from Northwestern University. Shannon's keen melodic and arranging sensibilities, discerning ear, and exquisite Irish flute style have been featured with numerous ensembles. She performs extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad with husband Matt Heaton. Shannon has lived in Boston since 2001.
Lisa Coyne - Flute/Whistle
Lisa grew up in New Jersey, and began playing Irish flute and whistle in her early 20s. She has studied with Paul McGrattan, Jack Coen, Eamon Cotter, and many other renowned flute players in Ireland and the U.S. She also performs with her husband, John, and the band Bento Boxty. Lisa is the recipient of a grant from the Southern New England Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program for developing her Irish and Sean nós singing under the guidance of master singer Bridget Fitzgerald.
Andrea Mori - Flute/Whistle
A graduate of Boston University's School for the Arts, Andrea has taught flute for many years. She is an active musician for Comhaltas, leads sessions in the Boston area, and performs with The O'Carolan Consort. Andrea also teaches at the Irish Cultural Centre of New England and is the founder and director of the New Boston Céilí.
Mike Reynolds - Button Accordion
Born in Boston, Mike has been playing since the age of eight. A member of the well known musical Reynolds family, he has performed solo as well as with his own and other bands in the New England area. He currently leads, with his father Larry, multiple sessions in the Boston area. Mike has been teaching music for 10 years.
Patrick Hutchinson - Uilleann Pipes
Patrick was born in Canada and grew up in Liverpool where he had his first lessons on the tin whistle. A student of Toronto piper Chris Langan, he has been playing the uilleann pipes for over 25 years. He contributed an analysis of Chris Langan's piping style to Move Your Fingers: the Life and Music of Chris Langan, by Paul Cranford and David Papazian. Patrick is well known for his unique settings, and for ferreting out unusual tunes.
Matt Heaton - Guitar, Tenor Banjo & Mandolin
Though his traditional music playing was shaped from years of session playing in Chicago and Boston, Matt also has formal music training in his background, holding a Master's degree in classical guitar. Matt's approach to traditional Irish backing is shaped both by his knowledge and respect of the melodic tradition. He performs regularly with his wife, flute player/singer Shannon Heaton.
Steve Brown - Bodhrán
Stephen Browne has 30 years experience playing percussion instruments in traditional Irish music. He was All Ireland Bone Playing Champion in 2003 and 2004. He has contributed to several recordings, including Jimmy Noonan's Music from Clare.
Bridget Fitzgerald - Singing
Bridget Fitzgerald is from Connemara, County Galway, where her sean-nós (old style) singing style originates. A founding member of Cherish the Ladies, Bridget has taught sean-nós singing and Irish (Gaelic) at music camps throughout North America including the Augusta Heritage Center, The Swannanoa Gathering, Pinewoods Camp, and The Irish Arts Week. Bridget has an incorrigible interest in many types of singing, not least of which, American traditional singing perforates her beautifully unique style and repertoire.
