Now booking dates for 2009-2010. Contact thehaybrigade@gmail.com
The Hay Brigade:
Dan Gurney (accordion) has been playing the Irish button accordion for more than half his life, having picked up the instrument seriously at age 7. He has won the Eastern U.S. Fleadh Cheoil Irish music competition six times, and has won two bronze medals at the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil. He has performed at the Washington Irish Festival with John Whelan and Paddy O'Brien, at the Turning Point Cafe with Joe Derrane and Johnny Cunningham, at the North Texas Irish Festival with the Matt and Shannon Heaton Band, and at the Bardavon with Cherish the Ladies. In September 2001 he was invited to perform at the International Accordion Festival, sharing the stage with Chris Parkinson and John Whelan. Though largely self-taught, he has studied with master musicians Father Charlie Coen, Joe Derrane, John Whelan, Billy McComiskey, and John Nolan.
Duncan Wickel (fiddle) is becoming recognized for his unique sound which combines his diverse interests and abilities based around Irish traditional, classical, jazz and world fusion idioms. Duncan began studying classical violin at the age of 4. He is a native of Asheville, NC, where he grew up in a musical family. At age 14, Duncan played his first gig alongside renowned guitarist and singer, John Doyle. Duncan has since toured twice with John throughout the northeastern states, featuring special guests concert to concert such as Liz Carroll, Mick Maloney, John Williams, Alison Brown and Gary West. Duncan and John have also appeared on PRI's Mountainstage and collaborated in the studio for Compass records' ‘The Light and the Half Light’ a solo record by John's father, Sean Doyle.
In 2007 Duncan became a member of the acclaimed Cathie Ryan Band, a group that tours nationwide and has recently been featured with the New Jersey and Hartford Symphony Orchestras under the direction of Maestro Jeff Tyzik.
Duncan is also featured in James Devine's Tapeire- a groundbreaking music and dance show which has received rave reviews by major press in the US and UK. Duncan is currently a student of Christian Howes at the Berklee College of Music, in Boston, MA studying jazz violin performance.
Forrest O'Connor (mandolin) has played his instrument for several years. He is the founder and president of the Harvard College American Music Association (HCAMA), a student organization that has produced educational seminars with such musicians as Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Roy Hargrove and plans to host other innovative artists (e.g. Chick Corea) in the near future.
Forrest cannot boast an impressive list of teachers. Nonetheless, he was raised in a musical environment, spent many summers traveling around the country with his family to festivals and concert halls, and has been fortunate enough to perform alongside David Grisman, Mark O'Connor, and an array of other major instrumentalists.
Nicky Schwartz is an accomplished double bassist in classical, jazz, and folk genres alike. He is a sophomore at Boston University and studies with the principal bassist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Edwin Barker. He is currently the youngest member of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Benjamin Zander. Nicholas has attended the Pacific and Aspen Music Festivals as well as the BU Tanglewood Institute.
As a soloist, most recently he has advanced in the Stulburg International String Competition, and last year received honorable mention in the National Symphony's national Young Artists Competition. With the Midday Jazz Quartet he has won the grand prize in the CMFoNE international chamber music competition. Former teachers include John Lockwood and Tony D'Amico among many others.
Thank you for your friendship and your support... I really appreciate it... I'm the happiest person when I see those wonderful comments regarding my songs, which I create with all my heart and passion... I wish you a lot of success and luck and I hope that everything will be fantastic in your life...
hi forrest (and brigaders i haven't met yet!) sounding fantastic, gentlemen! when can i hear you live? any of you headed to wintergrass? or the asta convention? or, you could always just come on out to michigan! :) hope all's well. keep up the great music!
Thanks much, gents, for accepting our friendship. Nice stuff here...visit our sister page at www. myspace. com/saratogapancelticsession if you want to join in our craic sometime. Vonnie from 2 Bits (hammered dulcimer and piano/pump organ)
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Hey Everyone! Thanks for those of you who came to our last performance! We have just started a Mailing List so we can notify people of upcoming performances. Please, send us your email if you would like to be put on the list!
