Master Fiddler Brian Conway with Matt Mulqueen at the Montessori School of McLean

Premier Irish-American fiddler, Brian Conway, performs with a skill, grace and force that are steeped in tradition but distinctively his own. Well known in the Irish/Celtic community, Conway has won numerous All-Ireland fiddling competitions, and has been called one of the best fiddlers of his generation. Nothing is missed or missing in Brian Conway's Sligo-style fiddling.

Brian Conway, one of the finest fiddlers in Irish music today, is a three-time All-Ireland champion.  Born in the Bronx to parents who had both emigrated from County Tyrone, Brian is a New York fiddler whose playing comes straight from heart of the Sligo tradition. Brian's early mentors include Martin Wynne and Andy McGann who got their tunes right from Michael Coleman, Paddy Killoran, "Professor Morrison" and that crowd.  The Irish ethnic community in New York City kept alive and developed the traditions of the old country, and Brian received tunes and tutelage from the best of them.  His respect for the tradition have allowed some to label him a musical conservative, but he's really a musical conservationist preserving and passing along the best of the past while melding it with the talent and imagination of the present, and making it his own music. 

Brian is joined by Matt Mulqueen. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, into a musical family, Matt's older brothers played button accordion and fiddle, and his sister became a champion step-dancer. This environment instilled in Matt an irresistible desire to learn and play Irish traditional music. His first music instruction came in the second grade when he joined the boys choir at his elementary school. At age nine, Matt asked his parents if he could learn to play the piano. He began with group piano lessons at a local community college. From there, he progressed to private lessons in Irish and Classical music with Donna Long, who has been the greatest influence on Matt's playing. Listening to the host of traditional musicians who haunt Irish pubs and to innumerable recordings allowed Matt to forge his own compelling style of accompanying Irish music. Matt returns to the Lyceum, having performed with Lexi Boatright and Cara Wildman in 2022.

Light refreshments will be available with wine, beer and non-alcholic drinks available for purchase.

Brian and Matt will also offer workshops for intermediate to advanced students on Sligo-style fiddling (Brian) and either flute or piano accompaniment (Matt) earlier in the day.  TBD Subject to interest.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Doors open at 7:00 PM

Concert at 7:30 PM

Links to artists:  

Brian Conway

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Tradtional Music Series is made possible by support from:

• The City of Alexandria

• The Folklore Society of Greater Washington (FSGW)

  • FSGW - Home

• Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann O’Neill Malcom Branch, Washington, DC

  • CCÉ O'Neill Malcom Branch

• The series is coindcuted under the auspices of the North American Morris Dance Organization a 501 (c) 3 Organization.  

Questions:  alex@morrisdance.org