Acclaimed fiddler and composer, Winifred Horan brings this quartet to the Yachats Celtic Music Festival for a weekend of soulful, lively, and stunning music and song with Utsav Lal on piano, Cary Novotny on guitar and vocals, and Johnny Connolly on accordion.
Horan was born in New York City to Irish parents and studied piano, Irish fiddle, Irish dance, and classical violin. Her very eclectic musical upbringing in the cultural melting pot of New York can be heard in her immediately identifiable sound and style of playing. She attended the Mannes School of Music in NYC and the New England Conservatory in Boston, where she studied classical violin. She has played with multiple orchestras and string ensembles including the Boston Pops Orchestra, before joining Cherish the Ladies in 1991 as a dancer then as a fiddler. She was invited to tour and record with the Sharon Shannon band in 1993. She still works closely with Shannon and the two have recently been asked to create a video and lecture series for NUIG in Galway, Ireland. Horan is best known as co-founder of the Irish supergroup Solas in 1995. She recorded 13 albums with Solas and toured the world with the group for over 23 years. She has also recorded four solo albums, duet, and trio CDs, and appears on countless recordings across musical genres. Horan’s new CD, “The Memory of Magic” – is a reflection and collection of beautiful melodies, old and newly composed. She is also currently a member of the faculty at The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.
Visit Winifred Horan’s website.
Utsav Lal
Indian pianist/composer UTSAV LAL, often known as the ‘Raga Pianist’ is recognized as the rarest of pianists. Stunning the world with his innovative handling of Indian Classical Music on a Western instrument, The Irish Times describes Utsav Lal as “a fleet-fingered performer whose best moments can be both highly evocative and dazzling.” Lal’s ground-breaking work has garnered an impressive career spanning two decades, with solo performances at world-famous venues like Carnegie Hall (New York), Southbank Centre (London), Kennedy Center (Washington DC), Steinway Hall (New York), Asia Society (HongKong), Arts Center (Melbourne)
Treading the careful line between an ancient tradition and the innate desire for innovation with the utmost respect, Lal’s music is acclaimed for its sincerity, depth, and powerful intensity. With unfailing clarity of technique and rhythmic virtuosity, his work is deeply influenced by Dhrupad and gains inspiration from a vast array of sources such as The Necks, Thelonious Monk, Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, and Cecil Taylor. Lal has challenged commonly understood ways of improvisation to develop his own unique voice for the piano, taking the stage at leading festivals including Novara Jazz (Italy), San Francisco Silent Film (USA) AsiaTopa Festival (Australia), Masters of Tradition (Ireland).
Endorsed as Young Steinway Artist, TiE Aspire Young Indian Achiever,, Yamaha Jazz Scholar, Lal has been recognized for his extensive collaborative work with Irish, Scottish, Jazz and Experimental artists including leading names like Winifred Horan, Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill, Australian Contemporary Circus Theatre CIRCA, Talvin Singh, George Brooks, Rajna Swaminathan. Lal has 7 solo record releases which include a historic world’s first album on the microtonal “Fluid Piano” (2016). Lal holds a Masters in Contemporary Improvisation (New England Conservatory of Music), Bachelor’s in Jazz (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) and is a disciple of Dhrupad vocalist Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar.
Johnny B. Connolly
Johnny B. Connolly was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, Johnny has been immersed in Irish traditional music since he was eight years old. By the age of 15 he was a regular feature around his hometown, performing with musicians sometimes twice his age. Johnny’s dexterity on the accordion earned him a slot with established Celtic ensemble Anam at the age of 17. For the next two years, he continued to build his reputation back home in Dublin’s trad music scene and abroad with Anam, touring festivals throughout Europe and Ireland. In 1996 the 21-year-old Johnny seized an opportunity to bring his skills to America.
Leaving Anam, he crossed the ocean to join fiddler Patrick Ourceau in New York for a four-month stint through New York City and Boston. In 1997, Johnny merged his talents with those of guitarist Aidan Brennan, forming a duo that entertained festival audiences across the United States from Alaska to Louisiana to Colorado.
Heading further west, Johnny eventually made his home in Portland, Oregon. A friendship with Kevin Burke, legendary Irish fiddler, and fellow Portland resident, led to Johnny’s signing with Green Linnet Records in 2001. His CD Bridgetown was released with universally glowing reviews. A collection of traditional Irish and French tunes, the album features guest appearances by Burke and production by guitarist Ged Foley.
Cary Novotny
Cary Novotny was born in South Dakota. He studied classical guitar in Bowling Green, KY where he was also influenced by country, folk, and bluegrass. Cary earned a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Portland and began a career as a professional guitarist, singer, and songwriter in the Northwest. His band, Cul an Ti, is hugely popular for their lively traditional Irish tunes and unique blend of Irish and popular songs. Having recorded and performed with many other notable musicians including Kevin Burke, The Bridies, Johnny Connolly, Tony Furtado, Hanz Araki, Winifred Horan, and the touring Irish dance show Celtic Legends, Cary is described as “a masterful guitarist with an epic sense of harmony, song structure, and a soulful and captivating vocalist” by the Willamette Week newspaper in Portland, Oregon.
