Musician and singer Adrienne O’Shea, 20, of Mendota Heights has grown up playing Irish music. As a student at Center for Irish Music (CIM), Adrienne has honed her skills on whistle and flute as well as traditional song, performing in a number of award-winning student ensembles and competing in the Midwest Fleadh and in the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (the ‘all Irelands’); most recently, Adrienne has been part of the Taking Flight Collective, the Center’s mentorship program for emerging traditional Irish musicians. Adrienne has also been a member of the professional show bands for Kickin’ It Irish and the Celtic Holiday Hooley for several years.
It’s not surprising that Adrienne feels that she “has grown up in the Irish tradition…learning both music and dance from a very young age.” She tells us that “the Irish community is my family” and that she enjoys engaging with the many Irish organizations in the Twin Cities. She comes by this perspective naturally as her parents are the founders and nurturers of the Celtic Junction Arts Center. In addition to performing in a variety of settings, Adrienne has been active as a volunteer, lending a hand with Eigse CIM, Minnesota Irish Music Weekend, local feises and Celtic Junction events.
Adrienne’s recommender speaks highly of Adrienne’s “talent, work-ethic, follow-though and passion for Irish traditional music.” Her recommender tells us that “Adrienne has developed her own style of flute playing, incorporating influences from her regular instructors at CIM, and the visiting teachers she has studies with at multiple Minnesota Irish Music Weekend advanced teen programs.” Her recommender also advises that Adrienne “has a gift for delivering traditional songs texts with emotional connection and poise.”
Adrienne will use her Educational Grant to help with the expenses associated with recording her debut album of traditional Irish music, using singing, flute and whistle playing. The funds will be important in helping with the expenses associated with recording time and space. The album is especially important to Adrienne, as it will be part of her honor’s senior thesis at the University of Minnesota. Adrienne hopes to grow as a musician and to expand her professional and academic resources. While the project is important to Adrienne as a musician, she also views it as a means of “giving back to my community and the people who raised me up in this Irish culture …a way of giving back to this community with the skills I’ve learned from them.”
The Irish Music and Dance Association is delighted to help this dedicated musician continue her musical journey.