July • 2006 IMSC students take a back seat - Irish American News

July 2006 IRISH AMERICAN NEWS 15
of passing on Irish music. The school’s
motto is “Ó Ghlúin go Glúin,” or “From
Generation to Generation.”
For fiddle champion Maggie Danaher,
playing in sessions gives “the
making new friends. Fiddler Danielle
DeCosmo is looking forward to traveling
to Ireland for the fi rst time. She feels
“very lucky” that she, along with her sister,
Sarah, is getting the chance to make
this trip. “After all,” says DeCosmo, “it
is just incredible that we are getting to
compete in the world championship with
our friends.”
Irish Music School of Chicago students
winning honors in solo categories were:
Danielle DeCosmo (third place fi ddle,
under 12); Maggie Danaher (third place
fi ddle, ages 12-15, fi rst place mandolin,
ages 12-15, fi rst place fi ddle slow airs,
ages 12-15 ); Margaret Duff y (fi rst place
button accordion, ages 12-15); Randy
Dziak (second place concert fl ute, under
12); Maebh Sutton (third place concert
fl ute, under 12); Kevin Carey (fi rst place
concert fl ute, ages 12-15); Kieran Ruane
(third place tin whistle, under 12); Grace
Howard (second place concertina, ages
12-15, fi rst place piano, ages 12-15, fi rst
place bodhran, ages 12-15, fi rst place
piano accompaniment, ages 12-15); Emily
Howard (third place concertina, ages
12-15, fi rst place miscellaneous (cello),
ages 12-15); Seline Trinidad (second place
harp, under 12); Justin Severance (fi rst
place bodhran, under 12); Jason Trinidad
(second place bodhran, under 12); Margaret
Coad (second place piano accompaniment,
ages 12-15); Sarah DeCosmo and
John Severance (second place duet, under
12); Grace Howard and Kathleen Turek
(second place duet, ages 12-15); Kirsten
Bern and Maggie Danaher (second place
duet, ages 15-18); Emily Howard, Grace
Howard and Kathleen Turek (fi rst place
trio, ages 12-15); Kirsten Bern, Kevin
Carey and Maggie Danaher (third place
trio, ages 15-18).
The Irish Music School of Chicago
is dedicated to teaching and preserving
traditional Irish music. Sean Cleland
founded the school in 2003 to teach
traditional Irish music the old-fashioned
L to R: Orla Carey, Monica Severance, and Maebh Sutton
Appearances
way: predominately by ear, with lots of interactions
with older, vital Irish musicians
living and playing in Chicago. Students
learn in group and individual lessons as
well as in educational and informal jam
sessions (called sessions), where seasoned
older players, many originally from
Ireland, mix with novices, sharing tunes,
stories, and techniques. The school is a
cooperative eff ort among many Chicago
Irish music teachers including Sean and
Clodagh Ryan, Pat Finnegan, Marta Cook
and Devin Shepherd. Classes are off ered
throughout the Chicago area and include
fi ddle, fl ute, tin whistle, accordion, harp,
concertina, guitar and bodhran as well as
ensembles. The school’s students play
and perform for fun regularly throughout
the Chicago area.
Cuts Foil Highlights
Color Waxing
Perms Gifts/Jewelry
229 N Northwest Highway, Park Ridge
Call Mary Today!
847-825-7615