Our instructors this year are all from the band Téada.
Téada, now firmly established as one of Irish music's leading exponents on the international world music stage, continues to be driven by a fascination with the timeless, expressive force of traditional tunes inherited from previous generations of musicians.
Since 2001, when the freshly-formed band landed a spot on the innovative Irish television show Flosc, Téada, has evolved to frequent headline performances at major music festivals throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Israel and Australia. A notable highlight was a headlining appearance to a 30,000-audience in Brittany during 2006, a year which also saw the band launch a hugely successful CD/DVD 'Inné Amárach', released by Gael Linn and Compass Records.
With lush Irish orchestration, Téada, meaning "strings" in the Irish language revels in the vibrant traditional music of Ireland, deftly playing up its structural intricacies while preserving the timeless energy of the reels, jigs, hornpipes, and other lesser-known tunes in the repertoire.
(fiddle):
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(button accordion)
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(flute)
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(bouzouki/guitar)
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(bodhran):
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A graduate in Music Education from Trinity College Dublin/RIAM, Oisín Mac Diarmada began playing fiddle at a young age in Co. Clare, subsequently moving to Co. Sligo and developing a deep interest in the playing style of the North Connacht region. Following the release of acclaimed solo album, "Ar an bhFidil" (Green Linnet) in 2003, Oisín was subsequently featured in renowned US magazine “Strings” and described by The Irish Echo's Earle Hitchner as "one of the most gifted and creative traditional fiddlers playing today."
Paul Finn from Co. Laois is one of the rising stars of button accordion playing in Ireland. Known for a pulsating and rhythmic performance style, his playing featured prominently in major international touring dance productions, as well as in the indigenous session scene in Ireland, prior to his joining Téada.
Hailing from the rich musical environment of Co. Sligo, 29-year-old Damien Stenson is noted for his extensive repertoire and flowing style of playing, honed by many years of extensive musical activity. He has featured on a number of albums including the compilation "Wooden Flute Obsession Vol. 2", and a recent bodhrán album by Junior Davey, and will appear on RTÉ’s upcoming television series ‘The Reel Deal’ in the Autumn.
Seán Mc Elwain from Monaghan brings a strong string dimension to Téada through his dynamic contributions on guitar and bouzouki. In recent times, touring performances have seen Seán gaining growing accolades for his accompainment and melodic skills from many quarters.He is actively involved in the organising and running of an annual weekend of music 'Scoil Cheoil na Botha' in his native county Monaghan. Seán is currently engaged in a major research project into the writings of Monaghan man Eamonn Murray during the 1930s and 1940s and like Oisín, is also pursuing postgraduate studies under Dr. Fintan Vallely in DKIT. 
Tristan Rosenstock is from Glenageary in Co Dublin. He started playing the bodhran at the age of 11 and prefers a subtle, sympathetic approach to accompaniment. A graduate of Early and Modern Irish in Trinity College Dublin and later Film and Television Studies in D.C.U., he works in television and radio when not touring with Téada.