Institute of Musical Traditions: Kevin Elam & Friends
About
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″] Event Details [vc_column_text css=””] Featuring Seán Heely, Agi Kovacs, and Bryan McDowell! Award-winning singer and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Elam leads a quartet of exceptional talent, showcasing the ballads and dance music of Ireland, Scotland and Appalachia. With driving fiddle tunes, vocal harmonies, and improvised dance steps, the group recreates the feel of the informal gatherings where this treasured music originally came to life. Kevin Elam is a multi-instrumentalist and 2019 All-Ireland Champion in Men’s Singing. Although he boasts a strong background in classical piano and choral singing, and a degree in jazz keyboard, Kevin is rooted in Irish traditional music. In addition to playing the tin whistle, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin and banjo, Kevin has also honed his skills as a singer and interpreter of Irish traditional song, cultivating a significant repertoire of ballads. This intensive practice and study of the tradition were formally recognized in August of 2019, when he was awarded first place in Men’s English Singing at the 2019 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann , held in Drogheda, Ireland, and took home the coveted “Dalaigh Shield”, an award only won by one other American in its 65-year history. In addition to his title in Men’s Singing, Kevin has also won second place medals in accompaniment (2022) and newly composed songs (2023) at the All-Ireland Fleadh . He is a highly decorated competitor back home at the CCE Mid-Atlantic Fleadh , including nine first-place awards (tin whistle, singing, accompaniment, newly composed songs, piano, and miscellaneous instrument). In 2020, Kevin was awarded a grant from George Mason University’s Young Artist Commissioning Project, and consequently recorded his debut album of traditional ballads, If I Were A Small Bird , released in September 2021. Most recently Kevin was honored to be selected as one of six Artists in Residence at Strathmore Music Hall in Bethesda, MD for the 2023 season. [/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_empty_space] [/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner] Showtimes [vc_column_text css=””] Wednesday, November 4 at 7:30pm [/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_empty_space] [/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner] Ticket Information [vc_empty_space height=”20px”] .vcex-button.vcex_6ad89caa1de24 .theme-button-icon-right{--wpex-btn-icon-animate-h:5px;} Purchase Tickets [/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”11243″ img_size=”large” css=””][vc_empty_space height=”18px”][vc_single_image image=”11203″ img_size=”large” css=””][vc_empty_space height=”24px”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
