Champion fiddler and singer Seán Heely is one of the most creatively versatile and captivating young artists of his generation. He is a U.S National Scottish Fiddle Champion as well as an award-winning Irish Fiddler, singer, and harpist in the folk and Gaelic traditions of Scotland and Ireland. Seán holds a degree from University of South Carolina in Classical Violin Performance and was a 2019 Artist in Residence at Strathmore Music Center in Maryland. An educator in demand, Seán is an Adjunct Instructor at American University, he has also been on the faculty at several summer camps such as Acadia Traditional School of Music and Arts, Boxwood Music Festival, Upper Potomac Fiddle Retreat, and Fiddle Hell Festival. He has performed in Scotland, Ireland, South America, Germany and at prestigious venues in the U.S such as the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C and Strathmore Music Center.
Seán has shared the stage with traditional music icons such as Liz Carroll, Bonnie Rideout,
Natalie Haas, Cathy Jordan, Eamon O’Leary, Zan McLeod, Maeve Gilchrist, and Paddy Keenan..
The Seán Heely Celtic Band includes acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and All-Ireland singing champion Kevin Elam, bouzouki and bass player Beth Patterson, acclaimed percussionist Lucas Ashby, and percussive dancer Agi Kovacs. The band brings together many different instruments to perform fiery dance tunes and ancient, soaring melodies from Scotland, Ireland, and beyond. Original compositions abound and they have rich vocal harmonies in their solid song repertoire that features ballads, sea shanties, and songs in Irish and Scottish folk tradition.
Seán plays fiddle, cezouki, shruti box, harp and sings in English and Scots Gaelic. Kevin plays guitar, whistle, banjo, and is an All-Ireland champion vocalist.
They have performed in venues such as the Kennedy Center, Strathmore Music center, CCE Irish Folk Festival Fairfax VA, Hylton Performing Arts Center, Virginia Scottish games, and the Niel Gow Festival in Scotland. We’re delighted they are all making the journey south to Mississippi!
