Bulgarian born, classically educated violinist Bella Issakova has spent the past 30 years
performing and teaching. In the mid 1990’s in addition to playing in orchestras and chamber
groups, Bella began exploring other genres of music, bluegrass and jazz being the first forays
outside of the classical structure. Eventually Bella discovered and fell in love with the
Traditional music of Ireland and has had the privilege to play and tour extensively in that field.
Among the various projects she is involved with, Bella was the musical director for Kerry Irish
Productions’ “An Irish Christmas” tour from 2005 to 2018, which covered most of the
continental US. Bella was a member of the Traditional Irish band The Red Wellies for several
years between tours with Kerry Irish Productions.
Bella continues to play with classical groups and orchestras, as well as Irish Music Groups, and
enjoys this opportunity for crossover and bridge between her two favorite styles of music.
Bella has a busy private teaching studio in the city of Atlanta. She enjoys passing her love and
knowledge of both classical and Traditional Irish genres to the up-and-coming musicians of all
ages.
Ohio-based multi-instrumentalist Randy Clepper is a player of the Irish bouzouki, fingerstyle
guitar, tenor banjo and hammer dulcimer. Originally from Tennessee, Randy’s early musical
interests covered folk, pop, rock, jazz, funk, bluegrass and various traditional styles, eventually
settling into a deep, lifelong love of Irish music. Randy also performs in a duo with Ohio-based
fingerstyle guitarist John Sherman. Their recording, “Finally Tuned”, reviewed in Irish Music
Magazine and on TradConnect.com (Ireland), was ranked in the top 10 trad albums by Folk
Festival, WDCB Public Radio, Chicago. Randy has performed and recorded as part of the eclectic
dulcimer ensemble Hammer On!, with members of the Yanni World Tour, aerial dance troupe
Project Bandaloop, also the Chattanooga Symphony, and as opener for Grammy-nominated
folksinger John McCutcheon. Randy is a frequent performer and teacher at Irish festivals across
the US, regional Folk Alliance conferences, and online as a Tune Supply artist. He is also the host
and curator of the Trad Nua Celtic Concert Series at Natalie’s Live Music in Columbus, Ohio
where he performs regularly with bouzouki player Mick Broderick (Slide).
Randy and Bella:
In 2019, an error in scheduling brought Bella and Randy together to perform at a festival in
Kentucky with an hour’s notice and no chance of a prior rehearsal. Expecting a difficult and
uncomfortable set, Bella and Randy were surprised and delighted with both the ease of
collaboration during the performance, and the acclaim their concert received from both
audiences and fellow festival artists.
That performance became the first of many, and their inaugural album is in the process of post-
production, due to be released in the late summer of 2024.
Website: https://www.randyclepper.com/bella-randy