Staff

Marty Smith has been playing traditional music for nearly 30 years. He spent much of that time playing dance tunes on the hammered dulcimer but now puts most of his focus on the Irish bouzouki and his singing! His personal teachers have been some of the Bouzouki greats such as Read more…

Fiddler and concertinist Colin Lindsay was introduced to Irish music as a child growing up in New York, where he had the good fortune to learn from the renowned fiddler (and Portal Irish Week tutor) Brian Conway, attend many festivals and concerts, and win the Mid Atlantic Fleadh in every Read more…

Irish flute player/singer Shannon Heaton honed her traditional style at countless music sessions in Chicago, Ireland, and Boston. With guitarist-husband Matt Heaton, she has performed original and traditional Irish music to audiences on four continents. Her compositions have been widely recorded (Battlefield Band, Childsplay, Ailie Robertson, Tricolor), and The Irish Read more…

Having spent his entire adult life being involved in music, from playing and promoting, to teaching, Pete Strickler finally found exactly what he was looking for when he was first introduced to Irish Traditional Music in his 30s. In 2006, Pete took over the reins of leading the Small Circle Read more…

Forty years ago, when Marla got bit by the Irish music bug, her late grandfather’s mandolin was the instrument that found its way into her hands, and soon into her heart. It has been her primary instrument and partner ever since. She has become one of the prominent voices of Read more…

New York born fiddler Brian Conway is a leading exponent of the highly ornamented Sligo fiddling style made famous by the late Michael Coleman. The winner of two All- Ireland junior titles in 1973 and 1974 and the All-Ireland senior championship of 1986, Brian’s early studies were with his father Read more…