The band "Birch Creek" was formed in the summer or 2009 and is based out of the hills of Connecticut. They met at an outdoor Farm Festival concert held at local farm and their music styles have meshed nicely ever since and has produced an eclectic repertoire of instrumental pieces. The delicate blend of the sweet sound of the mountain dulcimer, bouzouki, mandolin & guitar and of course the signature sound of Aleks, their incredible flutist takes center stage as she packs the most punch in our music. Performing everything from age old Celtic instrumentals from the Isles to a handful of smoky backwoods tunes and loving what they do.
Members: |
| Brian Horton – Guitars: was a self taught fingerstyle instrumental guitarist until he had the honor of studying under Grammy award winning Celtic guitarist Al Petteway. Brians styles range from contemporary to traditional Celtic. Brian's interest in guitar started by in the early 70's at the age of 12 and also plays the bouzouki, keyboards, Wiessenborn slide & banjo. He plays Kevin Ryan Guitars and also owns & operates Cabinfever Recording Studios www.cabinfeverproductions.net producing acoustic music recordings. The recording studio is located in foothills of the Berkshire Mountains of New England. Brian also is a master woodworker building furniture & designing fine acoustic instruments. |
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Aleks Miglowiec – Flute & Piccolo: is a master flutist who graduated with a Master's degree in flute instrumental studies and pedagogy from the Grazyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Lodz, Poland under the direction of Professor. ZW. Antoni Wierzbiński. In Poland, she played in the Youth Rock Symphony Orchestra, the Ladies First Symphony Orchestra, and various chamber groups. Currently, she plays with the Charter Oak Flutes, Flute Punch and Birch Creek. |
| Sandra Lynn – Dulcimer: In 1976 Sandra was given her first dulcimer and there was a connection at first strum. Since then, she has performed with the band "2 Chicks & A Guy" ,"Flute Punch" and various bands expanding her musical talents by playing Celtic, Bluegrass, Renaissance & Folk on her dulcimer. The list of tunes she plays is a mile long; Sandra plays handcrafted instruments made by Laurel Mountain Dulcimers and Aeolus Dulcimers |
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Kevin Gallagher – Mandolin & Bass: Studied at the "Garage School of Music" playing local block dances in Bergenfield NJ. He is a multi instrumentalist playing everything from guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, bass guitar to dobro. He enjoys un-learning bad musical habits that I learned at the "Garage School of Music" at Ramapo College, NJ where he studied with anyone who would stop show me something cool. Kevin worked for 12 years with a local oldies band where he "studied humility in musicianship" there. Currently Kevin is enjoying playing music with some of the finest musicians in CT. |
Ruth George – Guitar, Maracas, Singing Bowl
& Cece Borjeson – Bodhran, Harmonica, Pennywhistle, Guitar, Banjo, Prayer Bells & Birds : This duo has performed an eclectic blend of ballads and styles (including world music) since 1997 throughout New England. While their humor and harmonies add the “lyric” component to the Birch Creek concerts, they also drive the rythym on guitar, bodhran, maracas and more. Learn more about their duo at www.ceceandruth.com |
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Their Music:
Their debut release "Celtic Enchantment" is a gentle blend of 16 hauntingly beautiful instrumental Celtic Aires, Jigs & Reels consisting of Brian Horton on acoustic guitar & keyboards, Sandra Lynn on Appalachian dulcimer, Alex Miglowiec on flute & piccolo Kevin Gallagher on bass & mandolin, Linda Umstead on Celtic harp & Arlene DeMaris on fiddle.
Currently, Birch Creek are in the studio working on their 2nd cd release to include a few Turlough O'Carolan tunes along with some contemporary Irish & Scottish pieces. The band has scheduled many outdoor gigs for the summer of 2010 throughout New England and look forward to adding more & more tunes to their répertoire by researching Celtic pipe and fiddle tunes and the older styles that inspires them and seeking out the roots of where it originated.
Influences: Al & Amy Petteway, Kevin Crawford, The Duhks, William Coulter, Tony McManus, Neal Hellman, The Coors, Dervish |
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