Our Directors
Mitch Fanning
Alex Boatright
Alex Boatright
Mitch Fanning, Founding Director of Bog Band (2004), is not only a consummate fiddle player, but an inspiring fiddle and violin teacher who can rightly take credit for gracing our area with scores of young musicians. He has himself studied violin at Catholic University’s School of Music, where he received a Bachelor’s of Music degree in
Mitch Fanning, Founding Director of Bog Band (2004), is not only a consummate fiddle player, but an inspiring fiddle and violin teacher who can rightly take credit for gracing our area with scores of young musicians. He has himself studied violin at Catholic University’s School of Music, where he received a Bachelor’s of Music degree in violin performance in 1982. He studied Irish music with Brendan Mulvihill and Brian Conway, among others, and in 2014 was awarded a TTCT (Teastas Teagaisc Ceolta Tire), a diploma given to master teachers of Irish music by the CCE in Ireland. A frequent participant in festivals and sessions in Ireland, Mitch performs closer to home at events throughout the Washington metro area—he can be heard, for example, every Monday night with his fellow "Inn Mates" at the Irish Inn at Glen Echo. Mitch teaches privately and conducts classes in traditional Irish music in his home studio and is also a faculty member of the Washington Conservatory of Music, where he teaches traditional Irish fiddle classes designed for violinists. Mitch is also the founding director of Musical Arts and Dance (MAD) Week, a now-celebrated summer camp and Irish music and dance festival whose faculty includes a galaxy of Irish music and dance stars from North America and the Emerald Isle itself. Mitch is also co-founder with Alex Boatright of the Baltimore-Washington Academy of Irish Culture, a new school and cultural center for the study of traditional Irish cultural arts. Bog Band is the heart and core of BWAIC and a main feature of its performance curriculum and programming.
Alex Boatright
Alex Boatright
Alex Boatright
Artistic Director - Alex Boatright is a multi instrumentalist specialized in teaching all instruments together in large ensembles as well as teaching one on one for competition or personal growth. Her teaching style is student-centered, using evidence based methods to help children feel confident and supported as they grow in their music
Artistic Director - Alex Boatright is a multi instrumentalist specialized in teaching all instruments together in large ensembles as well as teaching one on one for competition or personal growth. Her teaching style is student-centered, using evidence based methods to help children feel confident and supported as they grow in their music. Alex is an All Ireland award winning musician and has led students to national and All Ireland winnings.
Alex studied both harp and concertina with Gráinne Hambly of Co. Mayo, but was also largely influenced by studies with Tim Collins during his stay in NYC and in frequent classes with Mícheál Ó Raghallaigh. She also studied fiddle with acclaimed NY Sligo fiddle teachers, Rose Flanagan and Brian Conway, whose iconic bowing style has shaped her own concertina fingering-system and bellows-work.
Alex has a Masters of Music Performance on the Cello from the University of Maryland and uses this background to bridge the classical to traditional divide many students feel coming to traditional music after already being accomplished classical players.