Caroline Priore continued to learn from her friend and eventually found her way to the traditional Irish music session in Northfield. Meeting and playing with flutist and singer Laura MacKenzie and fiddler Mary Vanorny encouraged and influenced Caroline’s music making. Caroline made use of a recording device and the online Irish music database to build a repertoire of tunes that would allow her to participate in sessions. She grew from knowing a single tune to leading multiple sets in a night. She continued her study of classical violin music, and found playing her instrument “as a fiddle was far more entertaining and quite absorbing.” She continued to learn lots more jigs, reels and began to commit songs and ballads to memory. Her curiosity about song lyrics led her to study Irish history and fostered her interest in visiting Ireland.

Caroline had been a somewhat reluctant player of classical music. Learning Irish music changed all that. She tells us that “Since my Irish music ‘breakthrough,’ I have played my fiddle at every sort of venue from art shows to fish fries to sing-alongs, and even began to perform as a member of a local band.” Caroline even founded a campus Irish music session at St. Olaf, where she is a student, introducing many of her peers to traditional music and encouraging them to come along to the Northfield session.

Caroline’s love affair with Ireland has continued to grow and she was longing for the opportunity to travel there. So she enrolled in St. Olaf’s study abroad program in the Fall of 2017, planning to spend a semester at the National University of Ireland at Galway, with coursework in Ireland’s history, dance and music. Caroline used her IMDA Educational Grant to help with airfare for Ireland. In addition to her coursework, she planned to learn songs and tunes at sessions in Galway and the surrounding area and hoped to take fiddle lessons at the University. And she plans “to return to the local music sessions with a new collection of tunes and a better understanding of the culture behind the music.” And to pass along her love of Ireland and the music, as it has been shared with her.
The Irish Music and Dance Association is delighted to help this dedicated young musician take the next steps in her musical journey.