Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School Instructors
Note: All times are listed in CENTRAL TIME ZONE. Thank you!
Kate Heneghan and Edel Mc Laughlin
Instructor Website: http://www.irishworldacademy.ie/
Teaching: Irish Music Ensemble for Teens (ages 13 to 18)
Current students at the University of Limerick's Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, Kate Heneghan and Edel Mc Laughlin are already accomplished musicians and teachers of Irish traditional music.
Kate Heneghan, from Castlebar, Co, Mayo is currently in her third year studying for her BA in Irish Music and Dance in The University of Limerick. Her love for music was evident from an early age in both genres of traditional Irish and classical music. She has collected numerous high-achievers awards in both piano and harp in RIAM classical exams and has several All-Ireland medals at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann and Siansa Gael Linn.
Kate has toured internationally with GaelForce Dance, Celtic Angels, Peter Corry and Celtic Nights and has performed across the globe in Europe, America and Asia playing harp, violin, piano, guitar and singing. She is increasingly in demand as a tutor, regularly giving workshops and lectures on the merits of classical and traditional music. She has performed in some of the most prestigious venues in the world including The National Concert Hall, Dublin; Tempodrom, Berlin; Jahrhunderthalle, Frankfurt, Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam and the Performing Arts Centre Beijing.
Kate co-manages a traditional Irish music summer school 'Westport Scoil Cheoil' which is becoming one of Ireland's acclaimed traditional Irish summer schools.
It is Kate’s first time attending the Milwaukee Irish Fest and she is so looking forward to tutoring at the summer school and performing with the students!
Edel Mc Laughlin comes from Burnfoot in Inishowen, County Donegal, in the West coast of Ireland. She graduated with a first class honours in her BA and BMus degrees at University College Cork and became immersed in the vibrant music scene there. She was successful at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann many times in younger age groups, winning the Senior All Ireland titles in Piano Accordion and Tin Whistle Slow Airs in 2008, as well as the Piano title in 2013. Her music has brought her to different parts of the world including the Shetland Islands (Scotland), San Francisco, Norway, Spain and Germany. She has recorded on albums with Edel Sullivan, Karl Nesbitt, Dinny Mc Laughlin, Josie Nugent and Brian Stafford, and has toured with the acclaimed female group Líadan. Edel enjoys composing her own tunes in her spare time and was winner of the UCC tune composition competition in 2005. Her tunes have been recorded commercially by Líadan and Karl Nesbitt. She enjoyed a short time working at the Irish Traditional Music Archive in Dublin in 2006. She is teaching Music in the Rosses Community School in Dungloe for the past nine years. Edel is currently completing her MA in Irish Traditional Music Performance at the Irish World Academy, University of Limerick. She is looking forward to taking part in the Milwaukee Irish fest this Summer.