Meet the Players

Kevin Angus

Kevin Angus plays whistles & pipes, saxophones (the other famous Celtic instrument) and percussion.  He also adds an extra voice to Christmas Ceilidh Band's ensemble. Steeped in the traditions of piping, Scottish & British music, and jazz since childhood, he researches much of the repertoire currently performed by CCB. Kevin is the former Pipe Major and founding member of the Feadán Òr Pipe Band where he produced concerts and medal winning performances throughout the eastern United States and Canada.

(Feadán Òr Pipe Band – http://www.feadanorpipeband.com)

Chuck Boda

Chuck Boda plays the bagpipes, Scottish small pipes & border (reel) pipes, mandolin, guitar, cittern, whistles and anything else CCB can throw at him. He is a founding member of the Scottish trio Haggis Du Jour and is in demand as a solo piper for weddings, charitable events, and concerts. Chuck fancies himself an inventor having created a unique hybrid set of small pipes that he regularly plays in concert, as well as his own mandolins and banjos. Chuck also plays bass with young singer, songwriter & fiddle player Kate Lee.

His previous musical life includes a ten-year stint as a founding member of the bluegrass band Cabin Fever where he played bass. Chuck’s musical interest began with stringed instruments and is firmly rooted in bluegrass and old-time folk styles. He began his current foray into Celtic music after discovering it as one of the primary roots of bluegrass & early American folk music. Chuck was formerly an alpaca farmer.

(Kate Lee with No Strings Attached – http://www.kateleemusic.com)

Pat Carey

Pat Carey is a triple contributor adding Irish flute, guitar and voice to the CCB. Pat treasures her family’s Irish & Welsh background and lends a balance to the Scottish & Cornish influence of the other members. Pat also plays with her traditional Irish trio Cuisle mo Chroi and is a member of the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann – Rochester’s Irish musicians’ association. She has been a featured performer at the Rochester Irish Festival and can be found throughout upstate New York playing and co-leading Irish music sessions.

(Cuisle Mó Chroí – MySpace Page)

Ben Ford

Ben Ford brings his well honed skills to the Christmas Ceilidh Band playing guitar, mandolin, cittern, & bouzouki. He has played in various Celtic and bluegrass bands over the years, most recently as a member of No Strings Attached with Kate Lee. Ben has also been the guitar accompanist at the Kanack School of Music with his wife Linda. Percussion has also struck Ben who piqued his curiosity by learning the Swiss based style of Scottish snare drumming rudiments eventually playing with the successful Feadán Òr Pipe Band. He can never get enough practice and always strives for improvement for the band as a whole.

(Feadán Òr Pipe Band – http://www.feadanorpipeband.com)

Cathy McGrath

Cathy McGrath plays Irish wooden flute, penny whistle and guitar, sings, and is delighted to accept the invitation to join the CCB for 2011. She is a member of the Rochester Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, and belongs to the Tom Finucane Ceili Band, playing for Irish dances and sessions. In 2010, Cathy and Pat Carey were chosen to be part of the Rochester Sister Cities delegation to Waterford, Ireland, where the group played with the Waterford traditional musicians for a series of concerts and pub sessions. Presently, she is a member of three bands, Cuisle Mó Chroí, Flint Hill Folk, and Steppin' Out String Band. Performances include libraries and schools across upstate NY, the annual Irish Cultural Day at Nazareth College, Historic High Falls "Holiday Memories," Turtle Hill Folk Festival, and the Rochester Irish Festival.

(Cuisle Mó Chroí – MySpace Page)

(Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Tom Finucane Branch – http://www.irishrochester.org)

Paul Gluchowski is the newest member of CCB where he plays cello, fiddle and sings. His musical journey started in youth orchestras and various string ensembles ultimately playing for weddings and other special events. He has been a member of the Roberts Wesleyan College Community Orchestra and has received classical violin tuition at the Hochstein School of Music & Dance. In recent years, Paul has been captivated with the sounds and styles of traditional Irish, Scottish and Old Time music as introduced to him by members of the Fiddlers of the Genesee as well as fiddler Dick Bolt. He now plays regularly at various festivals and music outreach events with the Fiddlers of the Genesee. In the past year Paul was privileged to play cello and fiddle on a recording of original traditional style compositions by Rick Muir (The Currach's Return). He has also played fiddle and cello with several smallpipe groups at Celtic music concerts in Rochester and Syracuse. As the newest member of the CCB, Paul is quick to point out his unique Celtic surname which he is very proud of.

* Images on this page by Natalie D'Aurizio and Mark Deprez