Brian Hart, 2007 Artist-in-Residence
Brian Hart's anomalous voice stands as a testament to the power of tradition. His ability to share the mind’s eye of an older generation of singers has afforded him great acclaim at his young age. He became the youngest and first ever American to win the coveted Sgiath Uí Dhálaigh shield (highest award in traditional singing) at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (international Irish music competition) in Listowel, Co. Kerry in 2002—adding his name to the shield’s long list of noted singers including Joe Heaney, Frank Harte and Paddy Berry.
His dedication to traditional song and more specifically to the sean-nós style of singing encouraged him to learn the Irish language to an uncanny fluency and along the way introduced him to the close-knit singing community of the Conamara Gaeltacht where Irish is still the commonly spoken language.
Brían has performed extensively in the United States at the Milwaukee Irish Festival, Chicago Celtic Festival, Sean-nós Milwaukee and the Traditional Singers Club of the Twin Cities and in Ireland at Lá na nAmhrán, Cruinniu na mBád, the Ennis Trad Festival and Cuairt na mBàrd. He has also had the distinction of being a singer to the President of Ireland, Dr. Mary McAleese. His recordings have been featured on many radio programs’ in Ireland including Céilí House on RTÉ and Lán a’ Mhála on RnG as well as on various NPR programs’ in the States.
In 2003 Brían established Sean-nós Milwaukee , the first festival in North America to focus on the sean-nós singing tradition. Its success has merited the production of a compilation album entitled Sean-nós Cois Locha consisting of festival recordings from 2003-2005. Produced with the help of Cló Iar-Chonnachta publishing company, this album showcases some of America’s finest proponents of the tradition, both native Irish as well as American-born.
He is likewise a noted instrumentalist of accordion, concertina and whistle and plays with Milwaukee-based group Cé, and more recently with Chicago-based Gan Bua, both of which Irish Music Magazine has lauded for their distinct talent and innovation in the vein of traditional music.
Brian received his undergraduate degrees in Linguistics and Anthropology from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He has two Masters degrees, one in Traditional Music Performance from University of Limerick and one in Irish Studies (including a High Diploma in Irish language) from NUI Galway.
In August 2007 he begins a position as adjunct professor of Irish Studies at Saint Xavier University near Chicago.