Welcome Clodagh & Sean Ryan - Guest Artists #WeAreDGN #99Learns

The DGN Fine Arts Department welcomed Irish musicians Clodagh & Sean Ryan to campus today in preparation for this Thursday's St. Patrick's Day Band Concert. The duo will be featured as soloists with each of the three DGN concert bands, and perform on a variety of authentic Irish wind and string instruments. 

CLODAGH RYAN

Clodagh Ryan grew up in County Derry, Ireland, where at age 6 she began playing Irish traditional music with her three brothers and three sisters. Since then she has won multiple All-Ireland awards on fiddle, concertina and piano. As a result, she was chosen to participate in concert tours of Great Britain, North America and Australia to showcase and promote Irish music. She has also toured extensively throughout Europe and the United States as a member of the traditional Irish band Providence.

 

SEAN RYAN

Born and raised in Chicago, Sean Ryan began playing tin whistle and flute at the age of 6, progressing to the uilleann pipes at age 15. Having studied under Dublin piper Mick O'Brien for several years, Sean also credits Chicago piping legend Joe Shannon (1920–2004) as a major influence on his playing. Sean has won multiple All-Ireland awards on all three instruments, and has performed on Broadway with the Trinity Irish Dance Company, and as a soloist at Chicago's Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center.

 

While maintaining successful careers in medicine and finance, Clodagh and Sean are committed to teaching Irish music to children, fostering a new generation of musicians and furthering the tradition that has been so rewarding to them.