Roots Music Series:
Fall 2008 Concert

The Hedge Band was formed in 2005 by Laura Byrne, Donna Long, Pat Egan and Billy McComiskey, four of Maryland’s pre-eminent Irish traditional musicians. In addition to being highly-recognized and respected performers, each of these artists has had extensive teaching experience.

Donna Long has traveled the world playing the piano and fiddle and entertaining audiences with Irish-American band Cherish the Ladies. She continues to foster an impressive music studio in Baltimore, where she teaches both fiddle and piano. Her recordings with fiddler Brendan Mulvihill and her more recent solo recording, Handprints , are highly acclaimed. In 2001 Donna was commissioned by The Library of Congress to compose  music for piano and fiddle, which she titled “Before the Snow Falls” and “Pandora’s Box”. 

Pat Egan is from County Tipperary, Ireland. He spent years performing in Westport, Co. Mayo before moving to the U.S. to join the band Chulrua. Also known for his work on the great recording Music at Matt Molloy’s, Pat still tours internationally with Chulrua which includes highly esteemed musicians Paddy O’Brien on accordion and Patrick Ourceau on fiddle.

Laura Byrne Egan is one of only a handful of musicians to successfully cross over to Irish traditional music from another discipline. She graduated from the Peabody Conservatory of Music in 1995 for classical flute, but now is highly regarded on both sides of the Atlantic for her proficiency in the Irish traditional style. Her 2005 solo recording received rave reviews and receives radio airplay in the U.S. and Ireland.  She teaches Irish flute at Goucher College .

Billy McComiskey is one of only two American-born musicians to win the senior All Ireland Championship. Billy is credited, along with Brendan Mulvihill and Andy O’Brien, for bringing Irish traditional music to the Maryland/Virginia area by way of their trio The Irish Tradition. Regarded as one of the world’s greatest button accordion players, he also recorded and toured with fiddler Liz Carroll and guitarist Daithi Sproule in their group Trian.  His solo recording Making the Rounds was recently re-released on Compass Records and he will be releasing his new recording on the same label in 2008.

The musicians of the Hedge Band have performed independently of each other at countless festivals and venues around the world including The Kennedy Center, The White House, Lincoln Center, and many other great venues across the U.S. Mexico and Europe. Laura, Billy and Pat are recipients of Maryland State Arts Council grants and all have taught with the Baltimore Irish Arts Center.

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Roots Music Series:
Spring 2008 Concert

On the evening of Saturday, April 5, the Roots Music Series is pleased to present Danny Paisley, as the next artist in this ongoing music series. Please check back additional details.