Academy Classes
The 9th annual Dublin Irish Festival Academy is returning this summer as a warm-up to the Festival. A variety of classes will be offered that highlight Irish music and culture.
- Academy classes will be held on Friday, August 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with an hour break for lunch.
- Classes will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dublin
- All students must be 12 years of age or older to participate in Academy classes
- Classes range from $50-$60 per person, and include a one-day Festival admission ticket ($10 value)
- Class space is limited; students will be notified if class is full
- We reserve the right to cancel a class if there is not a minimum registration number
Registrants for these three classes should be proficient with their instruments, these are not beginner classes:
Fiddle (Intermediate/Advanced Level)
Instructor: Eileen Ivers
Class fee: $60
Eileen Ivers will change the way you think about the violin.
Nine Time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, London Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony at The Kennedy Center, Boston Pops, original musical star of Riverdance, The Chieftains, Sting, Hall and Oates, Randy Brecker, Patti Smith, Paula Cole, Al Di Meola, Steve Gadd, founding member of Cherish the Ladies, Grammy awarded musician, movie soundtracks including Gangs of New York, performed for Presidents and Royalty worldwide…this is a short list of accomplishments, headliners, tours, and affiliations. Fiddler Eileen Ivers has established herself as the pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today.
Fiddle (Intermediate/Advanced Level)
Instructor: Martin Hayes
Class fee: $60
Martin Hayes is regarded as one of the most extraordinary talents to emerge in the world of Irish traditional music. He is the recipient of major national and international awards: most recently the prestigious Gradam Ceoil, Musician of the Year 2008 from the Irish language television station TG 4; previously Man of the Year from the American Irish Historical Society; Folk Instrumentalist of the Year from BBC Radio; a National Entertainment Award (the Irish ‘Grammy’); six All-Ireland fiddle championships – - and cited by the Irish Sunday Tribune as one of the hundred most influential Irish men and women in 2000.
Guitar (Intermediate/Advanced Level)
Instructor: Dennis Cahill
Class fee: $60
Dennis Cahill is a master guitarist, a native of Chicago born to parents from the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. He studied at the city’s prestigious Music College before becoming an active member of the local music scene. Cahill’s spare, essential accompaniment to Martin Hayes’ fiddle is acknowledged as a major breakthrough for guitar in the Irish tradition. In addition to his work with Martin, Dennis has performed with such renowned fiddlers as Liz Carroll, Eileen Ivers and Kevin Burke, as well as many Irish musicians on both sides of the Atlantic.
No prior experience is needed to take these classes:
Singing Workshop
Instructor: Niamh Parsons
Class fee: $60
Niamh Parsons has come to be known as one of the most distinctive voices in Irish music. Her voice has drawn comparisons to such venerated singers as Dolores Keane, June Tabor and Sandy Denny. The great Scottish balladeer Archie Fisher said of Niamh, “a songstress like her comes along once or twice in a generation.”
Throughout her career, Niamh has performed with a wide variety of artists, and has appeared at nearly every prestigious folk festival on either side of the Atlantic –including of course DIF.
Intro to Bodhran
Instructor: Michael Vignoles
Class fee: $50
Have you ever wondered how to play the bodhran? Michael Vignoles from Galway, Ireland teaches this traditional heartbeat of all Irish music. Michael is also known internationally as an instrument maker. For more than 20 years, he has made bodhrans and uilleann pipes from his Galway City shop. Bodhrans will be provided for this class or you can purchase one from Michael.
Beginning Tin Whistle
Instructor: Brian McCoy
Class fee: $50
Brian McCoy is a multi-winner of the Irish Music Competitions (Fleadh Ceol) in theUnited States, and has also served as an adjudicator for the event. He has performed live on Radio Clare, at the Willie Clancy Week Flute Recital, appeared with orchestras, recorded for Windham Hill Records and has been featured in Irish Music Magazine.
Introduction to the Highland Bagpipes
Instructor: Dave Hopper
Class fee: FREE
Dave Hopper is a Dublin resident and amateur bagpipe player that currently competes in solo and band piping events at the grade 4 level. He is a member of Capital City Pipes and Drums locally, and also with the Seton Hill University Pipe Band in Greensburg, PA. which competes in the U.S. and Canada. He has received instruction from Glenn Mackie, Dublin, OH, Jon Maffett, Reynoldsburg, OH and Gail Brown, Milton, Ontario, Canada. The workshop is being held to encourage the growth of bagpiping in the Columbus, area. The workshop will include the history of the bagpipes, a demonstration, and an introductory lesson on the bagpipe practice chanter. The workshop is for anyone who has ever considered learning to play the Great Highland Bagpipes. There will also be contact information for all the local pipe bands and the continuing education they offer.
