celtic music at the top of the range

18 - 20 June 2010

Who are the instructors?

Fiddle (Absolute Beginners, Appalachian/Quebecois, Irish, Scots) | Flute/Whistle (Absolute Beginners, Advanced, Intermediate) | Mandolin/Banjo | Accordion/Concertina | Uillean Pipes | Celtic Harp | Traditional Singing | Guitar | Bodhran | Dance | Rare Tunes |

Absolute Beginners Fiddle Kristin Kelly (Noosa)
	Kristin Kelly has many years experience with Irish fiddle. After playing in a Bush Band for a couple of years, her love of Irish music began at the Willy Clancy week in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare where she did masterclasses with Martin Hayes and PJ Hayes. She soon after joined Prague based Irish group Puca Rua for a couple of years before moving to Ireland to join the Barleyshakes with whom she remains a key member. Kristin runs the strings program at the Noosa Pengari Steiner School where she tutors almost 70 pupils and conducts two orchestras. She has always included Celtic music in her school program. Her skill as a teacher is echoed by her pupils' success: many have gone on to music scholarships and continue to love their instruments.
Steve Cook (Sunshine Coast)
	Steve Cook has spent the last 35 years playing and exploring a diverse range of music on an equally diverse range of instruments. Having performed with numerous bands locally and overseas he finds himself these days playing bouzouki and banjo with Tulca Mor and banjo and fiddle with the Barleyshakes. Steve is also co-convenor, with Alan Kelly, of the weekly Irish session at Irish Murphy’s in Noosa Junction. His motto is "So many tunes, so little time"
Appalachian/Quebecois Fiddle Pria Schwall-Kearney (Melbourne)
	Pria Schwall-Kearney is one of Australia’s most exciting young fiddle players, most known as a member of the Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club, which she helps teach. Having recently returned from a year in Québec and Appalachia studying (and teaching) fiddle and banjo, she’s come back freshly inspired with a heap of new ideas. Pria has played and taught fiddle and stepdance at most festivals around Australia, and in the second half of 2009 toured Australia and New Zealand with the Old Time duo Pigeonwing Strings. To find out more visit Pria's Myspace page.
Irish Fiddle (advanced) Adrian Barker (Melbourne)
	Having been swept into the tunes as an unsuspecting youngster, Adrian Barker has earned a reputation as one of the finest Irish fiddle players Australia has produced. In recent years Ado has made something of a second home in Ennis, Co. Clare, and his time in Ireland has given him the opportunity to soak in the music of some sublime traditional musicians. An accomplished performer, and the winner of the inaugural Chris Wendt award at the National Folk Festival in 1998, he is never more at home than in the thick of a lively session. He is also an experienced teacher of traditional music, and has taught extended workshops at events such as Ceol Aneas in New Zealand (2005, 2006), the Easter School at the National Folk Festival (2007) and at the Turning Wave Irish festival (2006, 2007). Adrian performs with acclaimed Melbourne Irish band Trouble in the Kitchen. The Troubles recently completed a tour of Japan and Europe and have released 2 great albums of traditional music. Ado has also released, with bandmate Ben Stephenson, an album of Irish tunes collected in Australia called ‘Undertones’.
Fred Graham (Brisbane)
	Originally inspired by the recordings of fiddlers Tommy Peoples and Kevin Burke, Fred’s quest for mastery of Irish fiddling resulted in a trip to Ireland in 2000. There he learned from and played many sessions with master fiddlers Seamus Creagh, Martin Hayes, Johnny Carty, Matt Cranitch, Maire O’Keeffe and Eilish O’Connor. However, Fred’s musical journey started much earlier than that. His musical path has taken him through a wide range of styles, notably jazz, manouche swing, bluegrass – all of which contribute in some way to his innovative approach to Irish fiddle. His playing is full of variation and improvisation. Fred is a founder member of Brisbane-based Irish band Tulca Mor. The band has recorded three albums and performed at dozens of festival gigs around Australia. Fred has conducted workshops at some of these festivals in Australia as well as New Zealand.
Scots Fiddle Emma Nixon (Brisbane)
	Emma Nixon began playing violin when she was 9 years old. She played classical violin in chamber groups and Queensland Youth Orchestras and completed a Bachelor of Creative Arts in performance and studio teaching. She worked as a strings teacher while completing an Arts degree in music and English and then a teaching diploma. She heard a CD by Alasdair Fraser and decided that she wanted to play Scottish fiddle. So began her worldwide journey learning from some of the great Scottish fiddle players. In 2008 Emma graduated from Newcastle University in the UK. She was awarded a Newcastle University scholarship to complete a Master of Music specialising in Scottish fiddle performance and research into transmission of Scottish fiddling. Back in Australia, Emma is continuing to perform, teach and research.
Absolute Beginners Flute and Whistle Dave Russell
	Dave Russell took up the tin whistle in 1982 in an effort to relieve the boredom of vacation employment at the Goonyella coal mine. He's been playing ever since, with never a dull moment! "Had I known then what I know now, I'd have been a much more accomplished player" Dave says. Come along and learn what Dave knows now, and become a better player. or: Dave's been playing tin whistle for a couple of decades, and has been a regular tin whistle tutor at the Woodford Folk Festival. Getting the fundamentals of Irish music ornamentation bedded down right from the start will set you up for much faster progress towards more advanced playing. Dave will help get you started.
Intermediate Flute and Whistle Nicole Murray (Maleny)
	Nicole Murray lives in Maleny and is half of the internationally-touring folk and acoustic duo cloudstreet, with John Thompson. Nicole plays flute, whistle, fiddle and percussion to enhance cloudstreet's renowned close-harmony vocals. She has sung all her life and played whistle since she was fourteen. While she loves the buzz of performing on stage, Nicole also plays in Irish sessions several times a week, and is a patient and inspiring teacher committed to empowering more people to make music. In Maleny she runs a slow tunes session for learners and she teaches singing with an emphasis on traditional styles at workshops and festivals in Australia and the UK.
Advanced Flute and Whistle Kevin Higgins (Brisbane)
	Kevin Higgins was born in Downpatrick, Co Down and, with a musical tradition on both sides of the family, he began playing traditional Irish music at a young age. His early musical life was influenced by Uncles Francie and Eddie Dornan who played accordion and fiddle and his journey into Irish music continued after immigrating to Australia with his family at an early age. Kevin has played the concert wooden flute and Uilleann Pipes extensively with a wide range of musicians around Australia, has toured as a soloist with the Queensland Pops Orchestra and has performed as a soloist at multiple events including Woodford Folk Festival's Fire Event. He has also recorded in various mediums including sound and film. Kevin is currently teaching tin whistle and concert flute and performs with traditional Irish band Tulca Mor at various festivals in Australia.
Mandolin/Banjo Liam Fitzpatrick (Brisbane)
	Liam has been playing the tenor banjo for over twenty years. He regularly returns to North Clare (the region that most heavily influences his style of playing) where he plays gigs with Noel O’Donoghue, Hugh Healy, Edel Fox, Charlie Harris, Tola Custy, Christy Barry and a host of other accomplished musicians. Liam played in the Brisbane trad band Fairly Lively for several years. He has played in numerous festivals and concerts around Australia. Liam is a powerful player with a deep understanding of Irish music and a huge repertoire of tunes.
Accordion/Concertina Claire Fitzpatrick (Brisbane)
	Claire Fitzpatrick's accordion playing is highly regarded in the Irish music scene of Australia. She has a beautiful, uncluttered style that cuts to the very essence of the tune, bringing it to life with a strong lilting rhythm. Claire started playing the accordeon in Ireland as an eager ten-year-old who participated in the local fleadhs and ceilies. She plays in the county Clare style which is where her family is from. After immigrating to Australia, Claire became well known to the Australian folk community as a member of the acclaimed Irish group The High Notes, which also featured Eilish O'Connor, Peter Woodley, Jimmy Gregory and James Fagan. She has performed around Australia with The High Notes and Tulca mór.
Uillean Pipes Kevin Higgins (Brisbane)
	Kevin Higgins was born in Downpatrick, Co Down and, with a musical tradition on both sides of the family, he began playing traditional Irish music at a young age. His early musical life was influenced by Uncles Francie and Eddie Dornan who played accordion and fiddle and his journey into Irish music continued after immigrating to Australia with his family at an early age. Kevin has played the concert wooden flute and Uilleann Pipes extensively with a wide range of musicians around Australia, has toured as a soloist with the Queensland Pops Orchestra and has performed as a soloist at multiple events including Woodford Folk Festival's Fire Event. He has also recorded in various mediums including sound and film. Kevin is currently teaching tin whistle and concert flute and performs with traditional Irish band Tulca Mor at various festivals in Australia.
Celtic Harp Andy Rigby (Victoria)
	Andy Rigby has been playing the folk harp for over twenty-five years, and is regarded as one of Australia’s leading players, teachers and makers of this noble instrument. His main influences are the Celtic harp traditions of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and the Latin American styles which he learned from Alfirio Cristaldo in Melbourne. He has worked with Blackwood, Moving Harps, Riley Lee, Haravicu, Bob Ballantine, Martin Tucker, Gillian Alcock, and many others. Workshops and performance highlights include Canberra National Folk Festival, (Easter class harp teacher (1998, 2003, 2006) and regular performer), Arts council tours of NSW and Vic with Moving Harps, Maleny and Woodford Folk Festivals (regular harp teacher and performer since 1993)
Traditional Singing John Thompson (Maleny)
	John Thompson is a singer, musician and songwriter, touring internationally with both cloudstreet (with Nicole Murray) and the Spooky Men's Chorale. A professional musician since 2003 and barrister in a (recent) past life, John has an exquisite understanding of the tension between artist and "day job", and how to nurture the one to benefit both. In 1994 he won the inaugural Lis Johnston award for vocal excellence at the National Folk Festival in Canberra. He has taught singing workshops with Nicole Murray across the United Kingdom and Australia. He brings a wealth of experience, passion and humour to his music. Since 2006, he has lived in Maleny.
DADGAD Guitar Jeremy Dunlop (Melbourne)
	A recent immigrant to Maleny from Melbourne, Jem is a well-known guitarist and excellent fiddle player. Using his vast knowledge of tune repertoire, Jem will teach skills to sensitively accompany Irish tunes on guitar, using open DADGAD tuning.
Bodhrán Eamon Murray (Ireland)
	Eamon Murray from Randalstown, Co. Antrim is one of the most respected young bodhrán players in Irish music. Described by Johnny McDonagh (De Dannan/Arcady) as "the future of bodhrán playing", and by the Irish Echo's Earle Hitchner as "one of the most captivating bodhrán players I've heard in years", Eamon has held the All-Ireland Bodhrán title on four occasions. Eamon performs with hot young Irish band Beoga.
Alan Kelly (Noosa)
	Alan Kelly was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland but moved to Australia about 9 years ago and now lives in Noosa with his wife and family. Alan is very well known on the Sunshine Coast as a singer/songwriter and bandleader of the Barleyshakes. Alan has a driving rhythmic style on the bodhrán that helps propel the music. Alan and Steve Cook ran the Irish Session in Noosa for about 6 years until recently, playing with a passing parade of great musicians from around the world (and locally).
Dance Davydd McDonald (Brisbane)
	The star of Australia’s Got Talent with his amazing tap quartet "Red Hot Rhythm", Davydd is a former Australian Champion stepdancer, and will teach one class only of his incredible techniques. Davydd is also the dance caller for the star-studded fun of the Maleny Ceili on Saturday night.
Rare Tunes Simon Wells (Brisbane)
	Simon has been playing Celtic music since the 70s, an accomplished flutist and concertinist. He also has been teaching for many years, and has started many tune-learnng sessions in Brisbane over the years. Simon has a deep interest in mentoring learners, and in non-mainstream Celtic music, particularly from outside the predictable Irish jigs/reels hegemony (which he loves too!!) The tunes on offer will be determined by YOU, the learner, from a menu including Kerry polkas, Breton an dros and ridées, Cape Breton jigs, and Asturian tunes. All sheet music ( with guitar chords) will be provided, but best to learn by ear if you can.