Milwaukee Irish Band 1

This Milwaukee Irish Band has been performing Irish folk music for twenty years, playing at festivals and performing arts centers throughout the Midwest. Their five albums reflect an evolution of scope and sophistication.

Milwaukee Irish Band origin

This Milwaukee Irish Band originated with two brothers and their five children. All but one of the children left their home town starting careers in all corners of the United States. Today, a violinist and an accordionist have joined this Milwaukee Irish Band to produce lively, widely accessible world music.

Milwaukee Irish Band members

Brian has been on the Irish Folk scene since 1984, first as half of an Irish duo, and then forming this Milwaukee Irish Band with his brother Tom in 1990. His musical interests started in theater during the late 60's, leading to three years with The Milwaukee Opera Company. With broad tastes in music it is not unusual to hear him breaking into his stellar rendition of the Roy Orbison classic, "Crying". He is also founding member of The Differentials a 60's 70's soft rock vocal group. Brian plays guitar adding foot-powered percussion with a tambourine. His most prominent talents are his expressive vocals, storytelling, and an occasional display of sibling rivalry.

Tom has been performing Irish, world and liturgical music since 1990. He retired from FedEx in 2008 after 35 years of service with the company, and is now able to devote much more of his time to musical endeavors. He looks forward to expanding his interest with this Milwaukee Irish Band.

Tom's son, a world-class Irish drummer, has played internationally. While the bodhran he masters as his foundation, he continues to develop his talent with guitar and vocals. Listen for the bluegrass influences when Evan picks up his guitar with this Milwaukee Irish Band.

Stas is a bayan accordion virtuoso, performing with symphonies internationally, the Milwaukee Pops Orchestra led by Doc Severinsen, has appeared with Garrison Keillors A Prairie Home Companion and numerous venues far and near. His artistry, dazzling technical command, and sensitivity have brought Stas, a native of the Republic of Moldova, part of the former Soviet Union, world-wide acclaim. With ten recordings to his credit he has served as President of the prestigious International Accordionists and Teachers Guild. A lover of all types of music, Stas is the consumate entertainer adding his own all-world flavor to the sound of this Milwaukee Irish Band.

Joe, fiddler & violinist extraordinaire decided to jump with both feet into the rock world, electrifying the instruments, using a drum set, and adding vocals. The attempt is to create a totally new pop sound. On cover songs, using the electrified strings to emulate the original sounds and capture the essence of what made these songs work in the first place. With their original music, Joe (also known as Joe 2.0) aims to produce something totally unique, yet accessible, creating sounds not heard before from a string quartet blended seamlessly with the lush sounds the instruments naturally produce. His sounds offer a unique character to the blend of this Milwaukee Irish Band.

Violinist Tatiana was born in the Ukraine and graduated from the Musical College of Ternopil and later at the Lviv Conservatory with degrees in Master of Chamber Music Performance and Pedagogy. Tatiana began her music career playing in the Lviv Symphony and toured with the orchestra to Poland, Russia, Germany, Bulgaria, and Estonia. After coming to the United States in 1994, Tatiana became a member of numerous orchestras to include the Rockford Symphony, Milwaukee Ballet and the University of Chicago Orchestras. In 2005 Tatiana became a member of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music faculty successively teaching violin, music theory and chamber music to WCM students. Along with her teaching, Tatiana currently plays in the Green Bay, Waukesha, Kenosha and Festival City Symphony Orchestras and a very welcomed addition to this Milwaukee Irish Band.