All classes are taught in the traditional style, by ear, and students are expected to be familiar with playing traditional Irish music and comfortable learning by ear. The classes are not suitable for beginners. Most classes will be taught at an intermediate to advanced level. If you have any questions, or would like advice in evaluating your playing level, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Tutors for 2020
Flute
Steph Geremia
Irish flautist and singer, highly regarded as one of the top musicians of her generation and perhaps best known as a mainstay member of the critically acclaimed Irish group, Alan Kelly Gang, Steph Geremia brings a wealth of musical scholarship to her love for Ireland’s North Connaught tradition, as displayed on her sparkling 2018 release Up She Flew. “Exceptional skill and musicality. . . a masterclass in Irish flute” (Folkworld) ★★★★ RnR ★★★★ Songlines. As a founding member of the Alan Kelly Gang with whom she has worked for the past 12 years, Steph has toured extensively around the globe and performed at top world and folk music festivals including WOMADelaide, Port Fairy Folk Festival and The National Folk Festival in Australia. Steph also regularly tours with the outstanding Scottish songstress, Eddi Reader and in the past has performed with critically acclaimed artists including the Grammy award winning Chieftains, Sea Road Sessions, Kris Drever (Lau), Ian Carr, Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh (De Dannan), John McCusker & Heidi Talbot, Líadan and many more. Steph is a highly sought after teacher who has taught masterclasses at international festivals, developed the beginner flute course for the Online Academy of Irish Music and teaches regularly via Skype and in Galway Ireland, where she is based.
“as good an album of top-drawer Irish tradition as is imaginable” RnR
“fabulous flute playing… a masterclass in Irish flute” FolkWorld
“effortless… a peach of a record that demands your attention” Living Tradition
“flawless… a must have for your collection” Irish Music Magazine
Learn more about Steph on on her website: https://stephgeremia.com/
Flute Tutor Coming Soon!
Fiddle
Ben Gunnery
I started my musical studies aged seven on the classical piano. After a year, my parents decided on the violin, guitar and Irish tin whistles. I started playing by ear on my main instrument (the violin) and mainly centred on Irish and other folk music and jazz. At ten, I started my classical studies with a private teacher and started playing in quartets, folk/jazz bands and making solo appearances in local festivals and competitions. Throughout my dodgy teenage years I have enjoyed a diverse range of musical inspirations and cultures. When I was fifteen I went on a music tour to South Africa playing traditional Irish music and that was extremely cool – I fell in love with the place. On that note, I also played with strings of India in the Barbican Centre in London, England which opened up a new world of inspiration for me.
My favorite musical inspirations would have to be Tommy Potts, a great Irish fiddle player from Dublin. When I listen to him it makes me realize that musicality and pure love of music can override technical imperfection.
Fiddle Tutor Coming Soon!
Free Reed
Dara O'Coisdealbha
Dara O’Coisdealbha is an award-winning accordion player from a hugely talented musical family steeped in traditional Irish music and based in Co. Tipperary. Currently based in Australia, Dara is already in huge demand due to his fine musicianship and lively performances.
Banjo/Mandolin
Muireann Banks
Muireann Banks is a banjo player hailing from Dublin, Ireland. Born into a musical family, she began playing traditional Irish music on tin whistle at the age of five, progressing onto the mandolin and banjo in the years that followed. Over the years, Muireann has been a founding member of numerous ceilí bands and groups and continues to be part of the lively traditional music scene in Dublin. She is an in-demand performer and tutor in Dublin and at many festivals across Ireland and abroad including, Fleadhanna Ceoil, The Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay, The South Sligo Summer School in Tubbercurry, Rencontres Musicales Irlandaises de Tocane Saint Apre, Féile Chois Cuain in Louisburgh, Co. Mayo and Kincora Tradfest, Ballina, Tipperary.
Guitar
Tad Sargent
London Born Tad Sargent, whose family roots hale from Castlebar in county Mayo, started playing music at a young age on the piano. Learning about Irish music took years of attending sessions run by the London Irish banjo player Mick O’Connor. He played guitar, bouzouki, bodhran, harmonium, piano, and mandocello on Matt Tighe’s debut album, and composed the reel First Born (dedicated to the McAuliffe family) which was used on James Patrick Gavin’s debut album Chewing the Fat.
A multi-instrumentalist, Tad has performed/recorded and worked with many great musicians and groups such as Tony Christie, The Kelly Family, Angelo Kelly, Brian McNeill, Sylvain Barou, Michael McGoldrick, Mohsen Amini, Benedict Morris, Cara Dillon, Steph Geremia, Orlaith McAuliffe, Emma Kirkby, Joby Talbot, Barrule, Kristina Train, Celtic Crossroads, Belinda Sykes & Joglaresa, Luke Daniels, The Dhol Foundation, Ranagri, Crossharbour, Bible Code Sundays, and The Long Notes. He made an album with the Breton uilleann piper Loïc Bléjean which was released in Autumn 2016. His playing can also be heard on recordings and films including the 2010 film “Burke and Hare” (John Landis), Barulle’s album “Mananans Cloak”, Crossharbour album “CrossHarbour”, Ranagri “Tradition”, Tony Christie album “The Great Irish Song Book”.
Whistle
Aisling Vaughan
Aisling is the current INA Musician in Residence and a well known and highly regarded musician, dancer and singer from Co. Cork, Ireland. She has toured extensively around Ireland, Europe and America and has had the honour of touring with Comhaltas Ceolóirí Éireann as a musician and dancer several times. Aisling has also enjoyed great success at competition level, winning five All-Ireland Titles at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. A music and Irish language teacher by trade, Aisling is also highly regarded for her outstanding teaching skills and was awarded by Comhaltas for her exceptional results in the TTCT teaching diploma in Irish Traditional Music. She has been an active member of her local Comhaltas Branch in Ballincollig, Co. Cork from an early age where she has been teaching for the past 4 years alongside her own musical mentor Martin Power. Aisling is a key member of the traditional group “Ceoltóirí Mhuscraí” and endeavours to actively promote the Gaelic culture at home and abroad.
Register for Ceol Aneas 2020
Instrumental classes open to intermediate and advanced students.
