Come join us for a musical journey celebrating the ‘Irish in America‘. Irish immigrants captured the heart of the nation with their mix of Irish jigs, ballads, folk songs, storytelling and humor. Their music was influenced from their travels throughout New England, the Midwest, Appalachia and the West. Their Celtic traditions were infused with new styles and instruments creating a new voice to their culture, along with the old. Get your green on, warm up your voices and enjoy the warmth, spirit and hilarity of the ‘Irish in America’. (Mary King often teaches a beginning Irish jig before the start of each program).

Mary King is the recipient of a 2018–2019 and 2019 - 2020 grant from the Southern New England Apprentice Program as a Master Celtic Harpist.  As Mary has said,“I love every moment I play; the harp is a wonder – sweet, soulful yet also bursting in excitement with great rhythms and gorgeous melodies. I feel blessed to play at so many memorable times in people's lives.”  Mary King’s parents came from Ireland which gave her a real love of Celtic music. That love of music has been her pathway to other genres of music.

Cathy Clasper-Torch started performing with Mary King and Ed Sweeney in 2021. Cathy Clasper-Torch is one of the best-known multi-instrumentalists and singers in Southern New England. Cathy is adept with various musical styles including classical, jazz and folk. Cathy’s is in constant demand to perform onstage with various ensembles playing fiddle/violin, cello, piano and ehru. Cathy combines her love of all genres of music in her playing and improvising.

Ed Sweeney 

For more than 45 years Ed Sweeney has actively explored ways to research, learn, perform and teach traditional American music. He started this journey in high school, then became the first music major at Providence College in 1973 where he helped create and shape a curriculum that enabled him to continue learning and following his musical passion.  

Ed Sweeney’s concerts and recordings have drawn accolades throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Asia. His recordings have been reviewed or featured by major media including Boston Globe, Boston Herald, New York Daily News, Washington Post, Chicago Sun, USA Today, and NPR, and his work is heard worldwide on hundreds of radio stations and on-line networks. 

Ed’s music reaches a diverse audience. Through NPR or on the hundreds of radio stations and on-line networks around the world. His music is in Ken Burns’ documentary Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony as well as Christian de Renzendes’s documentary Slatersville (Season 2). His music has been part of the soundtracks for television shows such as Northern Exposure and Briarpatch.  Ed’s music was included in the six CD set Disney’s 50th Anniversary – A Musical History of Disneyland. Currently his music is playing in Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and Disneyland Tokyo. 

Ed Sweeney, Mary King and Cathy Clasper-Torch are currently performing songs and instrumentals focusing on Stephen Foster to Mark Twain and The Irish In America to libraries, community centers and other venues throughout New England