Willie Kelly

Willie Kelly was born and raised in the vibrant Irish music community centered in the Bronx, New York, which was widely known for its abundance of legendary traditional music players.    He was originally inspired to play by his Roscommon-born father, and both grandfathers (Roscommon and East Galway), all of whom played fiddle.   Willie and his brother Joe studied with great West-Limerick fiddler and teacher Martin Mulvihill.   They played a highly acclaimed duo known as “The Kelly Brothers” in concert and festival venues, and on radio in New York.  

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Willie, who also plays flute and uilleann pipes, collaborated with East Galway musicians Jack and Charlie Coen, Joe Madden and Mike Rafferty among others.   He has performed with the Coens for The Smithsonian and appeared in a documentary film which aired on PBS Great Performances.   He recorded albums with Mike Rafferty and Donal Clancy (The New Broom, 2009) and David Power (Apples in Winter, 2016).   He has also made guest appearances on recording by Mike and Mary Rafferty and Clare concertina player Dymphna O’Sullivan.

Willie is married to East Clare flute-player Siobhán Kelly, who introduced him to legendary Clare fiddlers Martin Rochford, Paddy Canny, and PJ Hayes.   Willie and Siobhan both teach and play music in New Jersey where they live, and in the greater New York area.   They also enjoy spending time and playing music in East Clare with family and friends.  Both Willie and Siobhan are passionate about handing down the tradition.   Recent performances at the Catskills Irish Arts Week and the Blarney Star Concert Series in Queens featured sons, daughters, nieces and nephews who are all highly accomplished musicians.  

Colleen Shanks

Colleen Shanks is an uilleann piper based in Co. Clare, Ireland. Originally from Michigan, she first found herself captivated by the sound of traditional Irish music when she heard a recording of The Chieftains at age 10.

With an avid desire to learn and play what she heard, she acquired a tin whistle and began teaching herself the tunes from the cassette. She soon found herself immersed in Detroit's vibrant Irish music community.

In Ireland, Colleen attended the University of Limerick's Irish World Academy, where she earned a Master's degree in Irish Traditional Music Performance. Her area of study was uilleann piping, and during the course, she learned from some of the top exponents of the uilleann pipes, including Michael 'Blackie' O'Connell and Mickey Dunne.

Currently, Colleen teaches and performs at piping events on both sides of the Atlantic, and makes hand-stitched pipe bags at home in Co. Clare.

Michael Stribling

Michael Stribling is an uilleann piper living in Tallahassee, Florida and grew up in a family filled with Irish music influences. His teachers included Jerry O’Sullivan and Mickey Dunne.

Michael quickly rose to be a fine uilleann piper and relates closely to the old style piping of Patsy Tuoey. Michael placed 1st in the 2010 All Ireland Uilleann Piping competition in Cavan.

When not competing in Iron Man triathlons, he can be seen and heard playing with his siblings in the band, Killavil, as well as with the group Full Set as they tour the United States.

Michael can be heard on the album “The Rolling Wave, A New generation of Uilleann Pipers”, produced by NPU. He will be a returning teacher to the South East Tionól!