Accompaniment for Irish Music with Josh Dukes (Workshop)

The day after their concert and dance presentation at the Great Falls Grange, FSGW will also sponsor Sp?rt in a series of workshops! Learn to dance Sean-n?s yourself. Or learn about Irish music.Josh Dukes is a highly sought after accompanist in the D.C./Baltimore traditional Irish music scene. He is an extremely versatile multi-instrumentalist whose talents embrace the guitar, bouzouki, bodhran, flute and tin whistle. His musical sensitivity and melodic knowledge of dance tunes help Josh enhance the melody with dynamic chords and rhythm patterns. Josh learned the art of ancient rudimental drumming studying with Dominick Cuccia who is a widely respected instructor/performer in the fife and drum community. In 1997 he enlisted in the Army and has since earned the rank of Master Sergeant as well as being selected as one of three Drum Majors for the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps "The official escort to the President", the only military unit of its kind. As a musician in high demand, Josh continues to perform throughout the D.C. area with multiple traditional Irish groups. He has shared the stage with great musicians such as John Doyle, Patty Keenan, Billy McComiskey, Skip Healy, Zan McLeod, Myron Brethhotz, Philippe Varlet, and Matthew Bell. His influences include Paddy League, John Doyle, Arty McGlynn and Rob Greenway. Currently Josh can be heard playing bodhran accompanying Doc Botzer on his CD release "The House" which is one of the most beautifully original recordings of traditional Irish piano music.This event is funded in part by the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.