GUEST ARTISTS – BRANDON VANCE & DAN CAROLLO

Brandon Vance & Dan Carollo are well-versed in the Irish and Scottish folk traditions, while offering a contemporary interpretation of many of the classic tunes and songs from the traditional repertoire. They also compose new music in a traditional style that highlights the rich roots of celtic folk music, while celebrating the ever-changing and dynamic story that truly endows the music with a timeless nature.

Internationally acclaimed Scottish fiddler and violinist Brandon Vance is the recipient of Scotland’s 2017 Royal National Mòd “Sutherland Cup” in Scottish Fiddle, as well as being the youngest to win the U.S. National Open Scottish Fiddling Championship in both 1999 and 2001.

Vance has performed and taught internationally, serving as a guest lecturer at the University of Limerick’s Irish World Academy, appearing as guest artist for the 50th Anniversary of the Armagh Piper’s Club at the William Kennedy Piping Festival, and being selected as a featured soloist at the 2017 Scottish Royal National Mòd in Fort William.

Vance holds a B.M. and M.M. in Violin Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Vance is the second violinist of the Skyros Quartet, and fiddler for folk ensembles Keltoi, as well as being a founding member of Celtic ensemble Dréos, and crossover ensemble Crossing the North Sea. He is a member of the chamber orchestra Northwest Sinfonietta and baroque ensemble Pacific MusicWorks, as well as having a vibrant career as a recording artist and composer. Vance had the honor of performing his own composition, Gael Storm, with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra at Severence Hall and premiering his Shetland Fantasia for String Quartet as part of the Auburn Symphony Orchestra Chamber Series.

Dan Carollo is a fingerstyle guitarist who performs a blend of contemporary and traditional Irish/American tunes and hymns. His music has been featured on the BBC TV program Britain’s Lost Routes with Griff Rhys Jones (the “Pilgrims” episode), the Horizons podcast of the Diocese of County Kerry, Ireland, the Pray as You Go podcast (by Jesuits of Britain), and the film The Dark Horse by Seattle film director Cornelia Duryée.

Dan’s Miles from Dublin is part of the collection of Irish Traditional Music Archive in Dublin, Ireland and listed in the January/February 2007 issue of The Journal of Music in Ireland. In 2004, Dan was selected “Northwest Folk Artist of the Month” on KBCS 91.3.

He has performed or recorded with numerous musicians, including uilleann piper Eliot Grasso, fiddle player Brandon Vance, fiddle player Randal Bays, button accordion player Daniel Possumato, Dublin uilleann piper Martin Nolan, Inis Oirr singer MacDara O’Conaola, Irish whistle player Gavin Whelan, fiddle player Susan Burke, Irish composer and producer Rónán Johnston, and Northwest singer and folklorist Stewart Hendrickson.

Dan plays Taylor Guitars, and an Alvarez baritone guitar. His preferred tuning is DADGAD.