John Lee – Flute/Whistle advanced
Originally from Aughavas Co Leitrim and now living in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal .John grew up in an area that was rich in traditional music where his great influences were his father Peter, Michael McNamara and the flute player John Blessing .John has been involved in teaching music and as an adjudicator and music examiner for the RIAM and TTCT exams for many years. He has taught at the summer school in Tocane France and at various flute work shops throughout the country. He has also performed at various music festivals in Europe and toured America with Comhaltas. The album The Missing Reel with Sligo fiddle player Seamus McGuire has been hailed as one of the all time classics of fiddle flute playing .John has a great interest in old musical collections and manuscripts and in passing these tunes on to musicians. He holds a TTCT diploma and his playing could be described as an attacking driving style with great emphasis on ornamentation and power and tone.
Deirdre McGrory – Whistle
is an emerging tin whistle player and singer from the Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal. In 2016 she was selected as part of Feis Spè Ceilidh Trail performing throughout the Highlands of Scotland. Deirdre has years of teaching experience, teaching whistle at Ceolan School of Music, Ceol na Coille Summer School, Belfast Trad Music School and Millstreet Trad Fest. She has performed at music festivals nationally and internationally. In 2021 she graduated with a First Class Honours in Irish Music from the University of Limerick. In October 2021, Deirdre with her sister Ella, released their debut EP ‘Loinnir’. In 2022 she collaborated in a project with the Brosky Quartet. Most recently she performed in the National Concert Hall, Dublin, as part of the Inishowen Trad Orchestra and Choir, in January 2023.