BIOGRAPHY 

Born in Boston, Benedict grew up listening to recordings of Irish traditional music sent over by his mother’s family in Dublin. He took up the pipes in his twenties and has listened to and learned from a wide range of the older players, citing as particularly strong influences the stately musical tradition of East Galway and the elegant piping style exemplified by Seamus Ennis and Liam O’Flynn.  An engaging performer and teacher, and a renowned maker of the uilleann pipes, Benedict is well known throughout Ireland and North America. Along with his wife, harper and accordion player Hilari Farrington, he founded the Vermont School of Irish Traditional Music, where the couple teaches and promotes Irish traditional music and culture in their home state.

CLASS DESCRIPTION

Advanced Piping

The advanced piping class will cover a range of areas including phrasing and  ornamentation, as well as repertoire and variation.  Students are also strongly encouraged to ask for advice on specific issues which otherwise might not be addressed.  Recording devices are recommended.

If there is sufficient interest and if time allows, part of one class may be devoted to maintenance and tuning of the instrument.