Jake James – Fiddle
A two-time All-Ireland fiddle champion, bodhrán player, and dancer from New York City, Jake James has been called “one of the finest and most accomplished young musicians around.” The Irish Echo called his 2018 album “Firewood” an “outstanding debut solo recording.” Since then, he has released “In Reel Time” with fellow NYC flute player Brenda Dowling and become a member of The Consequences who released their debut album “When You Weren’t Looking” in summer 2023. Jake has performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Japan with esteemed groups such as the Green Fields of America, the Paul Brock Band, RUNA, and The Trinity Irish Dance Company. He has performed and taught at venues and festivals such as Catskills Irish Arts Week, Goderich Celtic Roots Festival, Milwaukee Irish Fest, Joanie Madden’s Folk’n Irish Cruise, the Chicago Auditorium Theater, Gracie Mansion, and Carnegie Hall. Additionally, he has a Masters in Composition from the Aaron Copland School of Music.
Cara Wildman Bodhrán
Cara Wildman is a highly sought after bodhrán player at the cutting edge of the instrument’s modern development. She credits a large part of her musicality to growing up playing western swing with her father and going two-stepping with her parents in her hometown of Dorchester, Texas. She has toured with Joanie Madden, Oisin Mac Diarmada’s Irish Christmas in America, Máiréad Nesbitt’s Celtic Spells, was a founding member of Irish band The Consequences, and more. Cara was the 2021 All-Ireland Fleadh Fest champion and holds two degrees in music education from Texas Christian University, and a Masters in Irish Traditional Music Performance from the University of Limerick in Ireland.
Cara teaches regularly in the festival circuit and has taught at the Gulf Coast Cruinniú, Catskills Irish Arts Week, Goderich Celtic Roots Festival, The Gaelic College, MAD Week, Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School, The O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat, John C. Campbell Folk School, Acadia Festival of Traditional Music & Dance, and Percussive Arts Society International Convention, among others.
Donal Lunny described her playing as having “great taste…as an artist she can be immersed in her playing while retaining perspective on its contribution to the music. The development of the bodhrán is an exciting work in progress. I think Cara is at the front edge of this development…”
Lexie Boatright Concertina • Harp
Lexie Boatright is a multiple All-Ireland award-winning harpist and concertina player. She is the executive director of the Baltimore-Washington Academy of Irish Culture where she mentors the award-winning BWAIC student Ceili Band and Grúpa Cheoil. She regularly teaches across the Irish music summer school and festival circuit.
Ryan Ward Piano • Accordion
Known for his driving yet sensitive and dynamic accompaniment style, Ryan is an award-winning pianist and accordion player hailing from NYC. He is a Senior All-Ireland Accompaniment Champion and has performed extensively across the Feis circuit and is a highly sought after accompanist in the NY area.