Accordion player Cathal Mee, of St. Paul, received an IMDA Educational Grant to take lessons with Christian Stevens, a C#/D Accordion player based in Maine, who plays with the traditional Irish trio The Press Gang. Cathal has been studying accordion with John McCormick at the Center for Irish Music for more than five years.

Cathal comes by his love of Irish music through strong family connections. Cathal’s dad is from Ireland and he has visited many times. His mom plays fiddle, so he was around Irish music “from the beginning” with sessions at home “all the time.”

Cathal plays accordion with the Center for Irish Music’s Advance Youth Ensemble and recently started playing céilí drums as well. Since joining the Advance Youth Ensemble, Cathal has traveled to the Fleadh Cheoil in St. Louis twice, and placed first four times. Cathal traveled to Ireland last summer with the Advance Youth Ensemble for the Fleadh Cheoil Na hEireann (All-Ireland music competition). He tells us that his favorite part was the week-long classes before the competition, called Scoil Eigse. He says “It was an amazing experience, and broadened my skills in every way imaginable. I was inspired by all the other kids who played the accordion really well. They used their basses in cool ways, and hearing them motivated me to try and find someone to take lessons from.”

Cathal tells us that he has been strongly influenced by his teacher at the Center for Irish Music – John McCormick. John been his teacher, and as he progressed, John encouraged him to play session around the metro and to get involved in his community. Cathal also says that his mom has been a big influence and a great help to him as a musician, encouraging him to “get out of his comfort zone and take opportunities I otherwise would not have explored.”

Based on his experience in Ireland, Cathal went looking for someone to help him learn to play bases on his accordion, something his current teacher doesn’t offer. According to Cathal “basses add a whole other dimension to the instrument, augmenting the melody with rhythm and harmony.” He hopes to go the All Ireland Fleadh in the future and proficiency on basses will be expected. And he tells us that he will continue his study at the Center for Irish Music, where he will work on tune development and “session savvy.”

The Irish Music and Dance Association is delighted to help this dedicated young musician pursue his goals as a musician.