ATLANTA IRISH MUSIC STUDENTS NAMED 2017 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

Students Qualify for World Competition in Ireland

Atlanta, GA, June 5, 2017– Members of the Atlanta Irish Music School participated in the Midwest Fleadh Cheoil held in St. Louis, Missouri May 13-15 and brought home 22 awards, with 10 First Place medals across solo and ensemble competitions. The Atlanta Junior Ceili Band took a first in the band competition, first ever for the school. The event is one of two traditional Irish Music competitions in America where qualifying entrants are eligible to compete in the world competitions held in Ennis, County Clare, Ireland during the week of August 13 - 21, 2017.

“I am very proud of all our students that competed in the competition this year” said Katherine Irwin Thomas, Director of the Atlanta Irish Music School. “I am especially excited to bring the entire band to Ireland to compete this year. This will be our first ever ensemble competition on the world stage.”

Competitions are divided into age categories and include solo performances as well as various ensembles and a 1st or 2nd place award qualifies to compete in Ireland. The students qualified for fifteen solo competitions and five ensembles. Hollie Greenwood lead the group with 2 first place medals in her solo competition and another first in the trio ensemble in St. Louis.

Last year, the school’s own Patrick Finley won the under-18 fiddle competition in Ireland and is the reigning world champion for that age group, beating out contestants from all over the world. He is the first world-champion from Atlanta.

The Atlanta Irish Music School was founded by Katherine Irwin Thomas in 2005 to teach and promote quality traditional Irish music to children, teens and young adults in Metro Atlanta, Georgia USA.