Haley Richardson is a virtuosic musician, whose talents extend to both classical and Irish traditional music. With her highly ornamented Sligo style, Haley has garnered a number of prestigious awards and honors, including multiple championships at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (All Ireland Championships) in Ireland, numerous MidAtlantic Championships, and the coveted Junior (2015) and Senior (2018) Fiddler Of Dooney awards.
Whether performing in a solo capacity or in an ensemble, Haley brings a rare dynamism and energy to her music, informed by her thorough knowledge of the form, her mastery of her instrument, and the absolutely trailblazing and show-stopping technique and emotion evident in every note she plays. Haley has been a member of Mick Moloney’s Green Fields of America and the John Whelan Band. Her most recent album, When the Wind Blows High and Clear, with multi-instrumentalist, Quinn Bachand, was nominated for 2020 Ensemble of the Year by the Canadian Folk Music Awards. She is currently touring as lead fiddler for the 25th Anniversary tour of Grammy Award winning production Riverdance and was featured in the 25th Anniversary show recorded in Dublin and shown world-wide. Find out more about Haley at www.HaleyRichardsonMusic.com, Haley Richardson Music on Facebook, or @haleyrichardsonmusic on Instagram.
Don Penzien has long been a top-flight performer of Irish traditional music. He frequently is on the road playing concerts and festivals with Gailfean (featuring All-Ireland winners Brian Conway, John Whelan & Máirtín de Cógáin), The Máirtín de Cógáin Project, Jil Chambless, Ed Miller, Beirt le Chéile (featuring Megan Irby), and most recently Haley Richardson. It was the never-ending traditional music playing at the Irish pub he frequented while earning his Ph.D. (clinical psychology) in Athens, Ohio that inspired Don to play. It was back then that he began his exclusive use of the “DADGAD” guitar tuning with tips from such notables as Zan McLeod and Daíthí Sproule. Widely recognized for his reserved backing style, Don’s dexterous work on guitar provides solid, driving rhythms to traditional tunes as well as perceptive and sensitive accompaniments to songs and airs. When called upon, he occasionally adds whistle, bodhran and vocals to arrangements. If there’s an Irish trad session anywhere nearby, odds are, you’ll find him there.
William Bryant A native of Sydney, Austrailia, Will has been dancing since he was four years old. He trained in various styles from ballet to tap to jazz to contemporary, and of course Irish step dance, all of which are invaluable for being a lead dancer in the highly acclaimed RIVERDANCE. For Will, being in RIVERDANCE means everything!. Will has toured with RIVERDANCE for nine years and in that time he has visisted ten different countries and hundreds of cities. “This is always something I’ve wanted to do”, he says. “Being a part of a timeless show is phenomen
Haley, Don & Will Live on The WDVX Blue Plate Special