Celtic Concert at St. John’s Church

St Johns Episcopal Church

Join Scottish fiddle champion and Gàidhlig singer Seán Heely along with acclaimed Scottish and Traditional music cellist Ellen Gira for a night of beautiful acoustic music from Scotland, Ireland, and beyond at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Suffolk Square in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia.

Tickets will go on sale beginning in August.

Seán Heely is a musical force of nature an award-winning fiddler, singer, harpist, and composer whose artistry bridges Celtic tradition and classical virtuosity. One of the most creatively versatile performers of his generation, Seán has been hailed by Irish fiddle legend Liz Carroll as “One powerhouse of a fiddler.” Seán holds the rare distinction of being both a U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion and a U.S. National Champion in Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig) Song—a testament to his deep mastery of the Scottish tradition in both instrumental and vocal forms. He is also an award-winning Irish fiddler and harper, bringing a rare fusion of technical brilliance and heartfelt expression to every performance. A graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in Violin Performance, Seán made his classical solo debut in 2012 with the Virginia Symphony performing Mozart’s 5th Violin Concerto, and was named a 2019 Artist in Residence at the prestigious Strathmore Music Center. An educator in demand, Seán has served as an Adjunct Instructor at American University, and has served as faculty at some of the premier traditional music programs in North America, such as Acadia Traditional School of Music and Arts, Boxwood Music Festival, Upper Potomac Fiddle Retreat, and Fiddle Hell Festival. He has performed in Scotland, Ireland, South America, Germany, Italy and at prestigious venues in the U.S such as the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C and Strathmore Music Center.

Ellen Gira is a vibrant and versatile cellist and teacher. Hailed as a “virtuosic” and “truly unique performer” (The Mumble, Scotland), her unique musical voice fuses folk and traditional influences with her classical training, from her native DC area and at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Her musical projects and repertoire span numerous fiddle styles, including Scottish, Irish, Old-Time, Canadian, and Scandinavian.  Ellen is highly sought out as a collaborator. She performs as part of the acclaimed fiddle-cello duo Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira, whose debut album All It Brings won “Traditional Album of the Year” at the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards. Notable performances with this project include Celtic Connections, Celtic Colours, and live performances on BBC Radio and for HRH King Charles III. Ellen also performs with the stringband Vandalia with fiddler Dakota Karper and guitarist Gabriel Furtado. Dedicated to exploring the depth and breadth of American stringband music, the group has found a niche inside of the old-time community as well as in the wider arts world that offers audiences a forward-looking take on traditional acoustic music.

Colin McGlynn is a fiddler and singer from Portsmouth, Virginia. Colin made it to the U.S. National Scottish competition level at age 9, before winning the Junior U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Championship at age 14. He has performed on the main stage at various Scottish Highland games on the east coast, numerous events in the Virginia and D.C. area, and extensively in Scotland. As part of the Scottish music duo with Seán Heely called the Glencoe Lads, he has recorded and released a full length CD, titled Homeport. Colin has been featured several times on the East Coast LIVE news network. In his free time enjoys being outdoors and holds leadership positions with the Boy Scouts of America.