Atlanta Irish Music School
Irish Music for Kids and Teens
Céad mile fáilte!
The Atlanta Irish Music School is dedicated to teaching traditional Irish music to students in Metro- Atlanta by providing Irish music classes, private instruction and community performance opportunities as well as opportunities for concerts, workshops, ceili dances, summer camp, local and national competition for ages 7-18 yrs. Fiddles, Flutes, Whistles, Bodhrans, Pipes, Concertinas, Accordions, Tenor Banjos and Pianists are welcome to attend classes and our performance group, The Atlanta Junior Ceili Band!Fall 2008 Information and new Instructors Now Posted!
Irish Fiddle, Whistle, Irish Flute, Celtic Song,
Bodhran, Concertina and Ceili Band;
Classes for Children and Adults!
Irish Fiddle, Whistle, Irish Flute, Celtic Song,
Bodhran, Concertina and Ceili Band;
Classes for Children and Adults!
Katherine Irwin Thomas founded the Atlanta Junior Ceili Band in the fall of 2005 because of her desire to pass on Irish music to the next generation of musicians in Atlanta. Recently renamed, The Atlanta Irish Music School, all music is taught by ear and in the past two year's of the schools existance, several students have qualified for the All- Ireland Fleadh at both the Midwest Fleadh and the Mid-Atlantic Fleadh as well as received top awards at The Atlanta Irish Music Competition and local Feisanna. The AJCB is not just a music school, but it is also an organization where students form friendships and develop outlets for their musical creativity. Whether playing on stage or in the classroom, students learn quality music, valuable performance skills, make new friends and have fun. Irish music isn't just for today--- it's for a lifetime!
Congratulations to the following students who placed at
The North American Fleadhanna 2008!!!
The Mid Atlantic Fleadh, New York:
Annika VonGrey 1st Place Fiddle, 1st Place Fiddle Slow Airs, 3rd Place Duets
Claire Shirey 2nd Place Concertina, 3rd Place Duets
The Mid West Fleadh, Detroit:
Joseph Mitteldorf 1st Place Fiddle, 1st Place Fiddle Slow Airs, 3rd Place Duets
Liam Butler- Lawrence 1st Place Piano Melody, 1st Place Piano Accompaniment, 3rd Place Duets
All students have qualified for the All- Ireland Competition in Tullamore, Ireland.
The North American Fleadhanna 2008!!!
The Mid Atlantic Fleadh, New York:
Annika VonGrey 1st Place Fiddle, 1st Place Fiddle Slow Airs, 3rd Place Duets
Claire Shirey 2nd Place Concertina, 3rd Place Duets
The Mid West Fleadh, Detroit:
Joseph Mitteldorf 1st Place Fiddle, 1st Place Fiddle Slow Airs, 3rd Place Duets
Liam Butler- Lawrence 1st Place Piano Melody, 1st Place Piano Accompaniment, 3rd Place Duets
All students have qualified for the All- Ireland Competition in Tullamore, Ireland.
Georgia Celtic Camp
A day camp in Alpharetta, Georgia for Ages 4-15yrs
Instruction in Irish Fiddle, Irish Step Dance,
Gaelic Football, Whistle, Flute and Concertina
while learning about Celtic History, Culture,
Music, Dance, Language and Arts; $250 for week
Gaelic Football, Whistle, Flute and Concertina
while learning about Celtic History, Culture,
Music, Dance, Language and Arts; $250 for week
June 16-20th, 2008
Click here for more information
We'd like to invite you and your child to consider joining us this summer for a week of Celtic music, dance and fun. The Georgia Celtic Camp is a day camp for students ages 4-15 years old and focuses on the study of Irish music, dance, sport, and cultural experiences. Sponsored by The Atlanta Irish Music School, the premiere Irish music school in Metro Atlanta, you don't have be Irish or Scottish to join us for a week of music and dance fun!
Celtic Camp promotes and fosters a caring environment where students work in small group classes to study all aspects of Celtic culture. Students 7-15 yrs will have the opportunity to choose a focus class for the week: Fiddle, Flute, Concertina, Song and Irish Dance. All students will take Whistle, Gaelic football and introduction to Ceili Dance. A special class entitled, Wee Ones, is offered for children 4-6 years old and will focus on Celtic Arts and Crafts, Storytelling, Dance, Song, Celtic Drumming and other fun activities.
I've listed some commonly asked questions on the website, but if you don't find an answer, don't hesitate to contact me personally. I love teaching Irish music and Celtic Camp is a unique opportunity for children to participate in fun activities and a life long pursuit of music and dance.
Sincere Regards,
Katherine Irwin Thomas
Camp Director and Irish Fiddler
Click here for more information
We'd like to invite you and your child to consider joining us this summer for a week of Celtic music, dance and fun. The Georgia Celtic Camp is a day camp for students ages 4-15 years old and focuses on the study of Irish music, dance, sport, and cultural experiences. Sponsored by The Atlanta Irish Music School, the premiere Irish music school in Metro Atlanta, you don't have be Irish or Scottish to join us for a week of music and dance fun!
Celtic Camp promotes and fosters a caring environment where students work in small group classes to study all aspects of Celtic culture. Students 7-15 yrs will have the opportunity to choose a focus class for the week: Fiddle, Flute, Concertina, Song and Irish Dance. All students will take Whistle, Gaelic football and introduction to Ceili Dance. A special class entitled, Wee Ones, is offered for children 4-6 years old and will focus on Celtic Arts and Crafts, Storytelling, Dance, Song, Celtic Drumming and other fun activities.
I've listed some commonly asked questions on the website, but if you don't find an answer, don't hesitate to contact me personally. I love teaching Irish music and Celtic Camp is a unique opportunity for children to participate in fun activities and a life long pursuit of music and dance.
Sincere Regards,
Katherine Irwin Thomas
Camp Director and Irish Fiddler
Spring Recital: Sunday June 1st
The Atlanta Irish Music School will hold its Spring Recital on Sunday, June 1st at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church Parish Hall in Alpharetta from 3-5pm. Admission is free and all parents, family and friends are invited to attend.The church address is 13560 Cogburn Road, Alpharetta, Georgia 30004. Students are asked to please arrive at 2pm for warm up and to wear their school uniform: red polo shirt and black pants.
Meet Alex Reidinger
Meet our Special Guest teacher for Advanced Irish Fiddle at The Georgia Celtic Camp 2008!
Alex's fiddle playing has been coached primarily by All Ireland winner Brian Conway of NY and Rose Flanagan of NY and she learned the concertina and harp from All-Ireland winner Gráinne Hambly of Co. Mayo, Ireland. She has competed successfully, collecting medals in competitions throughout the eastern U.S. and holds an All-Ireland title on the harp. Drawn to the lift, ornamentation, and lyrical qualities of Sligo style fiddling, Alex brings these characteristics into all of her music.
“…I really admire Alex in that, despite the overwhelming array of choices and influences brought upon today’s young budding musicians by such marvelous technology, she has managed to find very solid, deep-rooted traditional influences upon which to base her playing… Add to that her gift as an accompanist and one gets an entirely new perspective. You meet someone who has reached the highest standard in several areas of Irish music already… She is a multi-instrumentalist in the true sense, with a keen sense of harmony and rhythm. Not alone is she a model musician for any young people interested in Irish Traditional music, but a model of humility in how she handles her accomplishments. She appreciates her gifts and is more than willing to share them with other musicians. That, I think, is why I admire her most," -- John Daly. Director, Irish American Heritage Center, Chicago. January 2008.
"Alex is one of my favorite young musicians and is, without a doubt, one of the finest musicians of her generation. In her talented hands, the music is safeguarded and will be nurtured for the foreseeable future," Brian Conway
Alex's fiddle playing has been coached primarily by All Ireland winner Brian Conway of NY and Rose Flanagan of NY and she learned the concertina and harp from All-Ireland winner Gráinne Hambly of Co. Mayo, Ireland. She has competed successfully, collecting medals in competitions throughout the eastern U.S. and holds an All-Ireland title on the harp. Drawn to the lift, ornamentation, and lyrical qualities of Sligo style fiddling, Alex brings these characteristics into all of her music. “…I really admire Alex in that, despite the overwhelming array of choices and influences brought upon today’s young budding musicians by such marvelous technology, she has managed to find very solid, deep-rooted traditional influences upon which to base her playing… Add to that her gift as an accompanist and one gets an entirely new perspective. You meet someone who has reached the highest standard in several areas of Irish music already… She is a multi-instrumentalist in the true sense, with a keen sense of harmony and rhythm. Not alone is she a model musician for any young people interested in Irish Traditional music, but a model of humility in how she handles her accomplishments. She appreciates her gifts and is more than willing to share them with other musicians. That, I think, is why I admire her most," -- John Daly. Director, Irish American Heritage Center, Chicago. January 2008.
"Alex is one of my favorite young musicians and is, without a doubt, one of the finest musicians of her generation. In her talented hands, the music is safeguarded and will be nurtured for the foreseeable future," Brian Conway
