Ciarán Ó Gealbháin

Founder and director of the Irish Music Institute, Seán Gavin is one of the most highly regarded Irish musicians of his generation. He’s the author of the popular new instructional book, The Tin Whistle Method, published by Hal Leonard and in 2016 he became the first musician born outside Ireland to win the prestigious Seán Ó Riada gold medal. Seán tours regularly with his critically acclaimed new concert series, “From Shore to Shore,” as well as with the groups Téada and Irish Christmas in America. In addition to performing, Seán was Musical Director for the PBS program “I Am Ireland”, and for the long running “Atlantic Steps”. He’s one of the most highly sought instructors of Irish music, having lectured on the subject at institutions around the world including the University of Chicago, St. Andrew’s University in Scotland, and Na Píobairí Uilleann in Dublin. Seán was encouraged in music by his father Mick, a fiddler from Co. Clare, and his brother Michael – a multi-instrumentalist. At age 12, he started work on the uilleann pipes with the late Al Purcell, former pupil of piper Leo Rowsome. Seán moved to Chicago at age 20 where he spent a decade playing and studying with the windy city’s finest musicians, particularly Sligo flute-legend Kevin Henry. Since then he has toured extensively around the globe, with multiple radio, TV, and festival appearances. After 3 years in Minnesota, where he was active in the non-profit Center for Irish Music, Seán is back in his native Detroit where he continues to play, teach, and promote traditional Irish music.

Tá ardmheas ar Sheán Gavin mar phíobaire agus mar fhliúiteadóir. Tá sé ina bhunaitheoir agus ina stiúrthóir ar an Irish Music Institute, agus in 2016 bhí sé ar an chéad cheoltóir a rugadh lasmuigh d’Éirinn a bhuaigh bonn óir mór le rá Sheán Uí Riada. Tá neart taistil déanta aige leis an tsraith cheolchoirmeacha “From Shore to Shore,” agus leis na grúpaí Téada agus Irish Christmas in America. Chomh maith le bheith ag seinm ceoil, bhí sé ina Stiúrthóir Ceoil ar an chlár PBS “I Am Ireland”, agus ar “Atlantic Steps”. Tá éileamh air mar theagascóir ar an cheol Gaelach freisin agus tá léachtaí tugtha aige ar an ábhar in institiúidí ar fud an domhain, lena n- áirítear Ollscoil Chicago, Ollscoil St. Andrew’s in Albain, agus Na Píobairí Uilleann i mBaile Átha Cliath. D’fhoilsigh sé leabhar teagaisc, The Tin Whistle Method (Hal Leonard), in 2022. Ba é a athair, Mick, fidléir as Co. an Chláir, agus a dheartháir Michael, a spreag a shuim féin sa cheol. Ag aois 12, thosaigh sé ag foghlaim na bpíopaí uilleann ó Al Purcell, nach maireann, iar- dhalta leis an bpíobaire Leo Rowsome. Nuair a bhí sé 20 bliain d’aois, bhog Seán go Chicago, áit ar chaith sé deich mbliana ag seinm agus ag staidéar leis na ceoltóirí is fearr sa chathair, go háirithe an fliúiteadóir as Sligeach, Kevin Henry. Ó shin i leith, tá sé tar éis seinm ar fud an domhain, agus bíonn sé le cloisteáil go minic ar chláracha raidió, teilifíse agus ag féilte ceoil. Tar éis dó 3 bliana a chaitheamh in Minnesota, áit a raibh sé gníomhach in Ionad an Cheoil Ghaelaigh, tá Seán ar ais ina chathair dhúchais, Detroit, ag seinm, ag múineadh agus ag obair leis an gceol traidisiúnta Gaelach a chur chun cinn.