In our ongoing series of day-long workshops promoting traditional music, we're excited to welcome all the way from Ireland, Hammy Hamilton (Flute & Whistle) and Seán Potts (Uilleann Pipes). Hammy and Seán are masters of their instruments and well respected throughout Ireland and the world for their depth of knowledge of traditional Irish music.

Through this workshop, Hammy & Seán will teach you a variety of tunes and ornamentation specific to their region of influence (Sliabh Luchra and Wexford). This workshop is open to all musicians - you don't have to be a piper or flute/whistle player to register.

If you are interested in getting a few tips on learning the flute, Hammy (also a respected flute maker) will have available several student model open-hole flutes for a nominal fee for the day.

TO REGISTER, PLEASE CONTACT:

Hammy Hamilton

Colin (Hammy) Hamilton was born in 1953 in Belfast. Attracted like many others to traditional music through the recordings of the early ballad groups, he began to play the tin whistle and eventually the flute. Hammy moved to Cork in 1976 in connection with research for a Master's degree in Ethnomusicology, and in 1979 set up one of the first flute workshops in Ireland, also one of the first devoted to making flutes specifically for Irish music. He is now living in the West Cork Gaeltacht and is currently engaged in flutemaking. He has continued research into various aspects of traditional music in Ireland, gaining a PhD for work on commercial recordings of Irish traditional music, and is currently writing a major work on the social history of traditional music in Ireland. Hammy is the author of The Irish Flute Player's Handbook, an excellent guide for flute players. His playing can be heard on his CD, The Moneymusk, and on It's No Secret with Con Fada O'Drisceoil and Seamus Craegh.

Seán Potts

Seán Potts was born in Dublin in 1967. The Potts name has long been synonymous with traditional music in Dublin and Seán continues an important tradition of piping in the family which dates back to his great grandfather John Potts, a piper from Co. Wexford who came to live in the Irish capital early in the 20th century.  Seán's father, Seán Sr., was a founder member of THE CHIEFTANS and has been chairman of Na Piobairi Uilleann in Dublin. His grand uncle, Tommy Potts, was one of Ireland's most unique fiddle players while Eddie Potts, another grand uncle, was also a piper and fiddle player of note. Seán has toured and performed extensively over the years. He has recorded with the Donal Lunny Band, Bakerswell, Na Connerys and has just completed his first solo CD. He regularly teaches at the summer schools in Ireland, at piping conventions in Germany, France and Belgium, in the United States at the Boston Gaelic Roots festival and most recently at the West Coast Piping Tionól in San Francisco.

Seán plays in a closed-fingering, vibrant style, influenced largely by the great piping masters Seamus Ennis, Tommy Reck and Willie Clancy. He also identifies his contemporaries as having a profound effect on his music especially pipers such as Ronan Browne, Robbie Hannan and Joe McLaughlin. He also has a great interest in the fiddle music of South West Donegal and particularly in the music of legendary travelling fiddle player John Doherty. Several of Doherty's tunes form an intrinsic part of Seán's repertoire.