Tenor Banjo Player Chris McGreevy of Bloomington had made plans to attend the Freakle Festival in County Clare, Ireland in July 2020 to study with renowned East Galway tenor banjo player Páraic Mac Donnchadha. Chris was hoping to learn tunes directly from the East Galway repertoire, tunes Páraic had learned from the great players of earlier generations.

But Wait! Plans for the festival and for Chris’s travel changed with the Pandemic. Instead, Chris will use his IMDA Educational Grant for video and Skype lessons. The lessons will take the form of video recording of tunes made by Páraic for practice with follow-up Skype sessions to work out the tunes.

Chris grew up in the Twin Cities, enjoying the music his parents enjoyed – the Beatles and Bob Dylan. Fortunately, Chris discovered the Friday session at Merlins Rest and he began visiting regularly just to listen to the music. The musicians there both impressed and inspired him. His interest in learning to play the music led him to the Keegan’s Learner’s Session and a suggestion from Tom Lockney that he try tenor banjo. (Tom loaned Chris his tenor banjo at one of the sessions – and Chris says he “was hooked.”) Chris began studying with Brian Miller at the Center for Irish Music a couple of years ago and is now a devoted student there.

Chris discovered Páraic’s playing on Clare FM’s show The West Wind. (Isn’t technology amazing!) He looks forward to gaining “a greater understanding of the music through learning directly from a great tradition-bearing musician in Ireland.”

And Chris hopes to make the recordings available to other students.

The Irish Music and Dance Association is delighted to help this dedicated musician continue to improve his skills and enjoyment of traditional music.