Irish Fest School of Music Faculty and Classes

Classes:

Banjo - Randy Gosa
Bodhran - Asher Gray, Patrick Roe, Amy Richter & John Ceszynski
Fiddle - Kaitlin Hahn & Maria Terres
Flute - Asher Gray, Jeff Ksiazek, Brett Lipshutz
Guitar - John Nicholson and Randy Gosa
Harp - Dorothy Walsh
Keyboard - Kathleen Congleton
Tin Whistle - Asher Gray, Jeff Ksiazek, Brett Lipshutz, John Ceszynski
Uilleann Pipes - John Ceszynski

Faculty:

John Ceszynski - Uilleann Pipes, Tin Whistle, Bodhran
Email: kcdwhistler@yahoo.com
John Ceszynski has been involved with Irish Traditional Music since 1981. He has performed, taught, and competed across the Midwest and in Ireland. Lessons will be arranged between the student and teacher in both the Milwaukee and Appleton areas.

Kathleen Congleton - Irish Piano
Email: riraceltband@athenet.net
Kathleen has taught Irish traditional piano accompaniment privately for many years, and more recently has begun to teach Irish melody as well. She studied with noted traditional performers Geraldine Cotter and Patsy Broderick in Ireland and Donna Long in the United States. A member of Ceol Cairde for eight years, she performs with the band RiRa with Stuart Mitchell and the all-woman Irish band, The Wise Maids.

Randy Gosa - Banjo, DADGAD Guitar
Email: dr_dadgad@yahoo.com
A string musician since the age of 12, Randy is a graduate of Visual Art and Celtic Studies at UWM. Randy has studied music with Liz Carroll, Niall Keegan, Sandra Joyce, Andy Irvine, Tony Nother, and studied abroad at the University of Limerick, Ireland. He plays regularly for céilí and set dancers and is a member of the band Cé. He teaches by ear and is a strong believer in passing tunes and technique person to person.

Asher Gray - Flute, Tin Whistle, Bodhran
Email: asher.gray@gmail.com
Asher has won numerous awards at the Midwest Fleadh and competed in the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil. He learned bodhrán at age twelve and soon after mastered the whistle, wooden flute, and bouzouki. Asher has been an instructor with St. Louis Irish Arts and Irish Fest Summer School. He has six recordings and performs with the band Cé. Asher teaches beginner, intermediate, and advanced students.

Kaitlin Hahn - Fiddle
Email: fiddleplayer22@hotmail.com
Kaitlin Hahn began playing classical violin at the age of six, and at eighteen began studying Celtic fiddle. Kaitlin frequently travels to Cape Breton to study the music and has also studied with Liz Carroll. She has recorded several CDs. Kaitlin is a recipient of the Ed Ward Scholarship and a graduate of UWM with a music education degree. She plays with the group Atlantic Wave.

Jeff Ksiazek - Flute, Tin Whistle
Email: jksiazek@gmail.com
Jeff Ksiazek, a member of Milwaukee band áthas, has been playing wind instruments for two decades. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in music performance in 1998, he has regularly performed, recorded several albums in a variety of genres, and taught music performance and theory. Jeff offers instruction on Irish flute, whistle, and silver flute in Irish music.

Brett Lipshutz - Flute, Tin Whistle
Email: blip73@gmail.com
Brett Lipshutz has been playing various flutes for over 25 years and Irish and Baroque music for 15. Twice he played at the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil and toured with the Trinity Irish Dance Company. In addition to involvement in theatre projects, school outreach programs and many recordings and radio broadcasts, he is an active teacher. He recently taught flute and whistle in Paris, France, at the Association Irlandaise.

John Nicholson - Guitar
Email: blindspot130@yahoo.com
For over a dozen years John has been busy teaching Celtic and finger style guitar and performing with noted area bands. He is currently a member of two-time WAMI award winner Frogwater. John is in great demand at festivals and workshops throughout the Midwest and teaches regularly at the Irish Fest Summer School.

Amy Richter - Bodhran
Email: pasamy@aol.com
Amy first picked up the bodhrán at the Irish Fest Summer School in 2003. Since then she has gone on to become the drummer for the popular Milwaukee band áthas, win the Midwest Fleadh, and compete in the All-Irelands. She also spent a month studying abroad at the University of Limerick. Amy has had the honor of playing alongside John Whelan, Jackie Moran, and Paul Phillips among other great musicians.

Patrick Roe - Bodhran
Email: patrick.roe@sbcglobal.net
Influenced by big band greats, Patrick began drumming in his teens. After learning the fundamentals at the Irish Fest Summer School, he developed his style as an avid session player. Patrick has played with Anam Ri, Americay, Leahy’s Luck, Stone Ring, Frogwater, Different Drums of Ireland, and Ceol Cairde. Patrick has studied at the South Sligo Music Summer School. He also teaches at the Irish Fest Summer School.

Maria Terres - Fiddle
Email: materres@wi.rr.com
A three-time All-Ireland qualifier on fiddle and senior céilí band, Maria has taught fiddle to all ages since 1986. She plays for céilí and set dancers (with Cream City Céilí Band) and New England Contra dancing (with Last Gaspe). Maria is a feis musician, a national workshop instructor, and a versatile studio musician with multiple recordings. She has been a music director, composer, and performer for the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre.

Dorothy Walsh - Celtic Harp
Email: harpist_dorothy@yahoo.com
Dorothy has been playing harp since 1984 and release her first CD in 2006. Coordinator of the Harp Tent at Milwaukee Irish Fest, she has had instruction from Kim Robertson, Janet Harbison, Sue Richards, and others. All ages and abilities are welcome. Dorothy specializes in teaching adults, especially those who do not read music or play another instrument. Even first-time students can be playing a song at the end of their first lesson.

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