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Andra Bohnet is a flutist who embraces a rich variety of musical styles with both virtuosity and sensitivity. In addition to her position as Professor of Music at the University of South Alabama where she teaches flute, music history/literature and chamber music, she is the principal flutist with Mobile Symphony Orchestra where she has been a featured soloist on several occasions. Her newest chamber ensemble, the Trebuchet Wind Trio, released their debut CD Perpetuum Mobile in 2016. She also plays Irish flute, whistle and Celtic harp in a variety of settings including Mithril, a high-energy Celtic/world music band which has released seven CDs, and Liminal, a new flute and percussion duo, which crosses the threshold between ancient and modern musical idioms with a bit of technology added into the mix.

Her solo CD, Clinton on Clinton, rediscovered the music of John Clinton (1809-1864), an Irish flutist, composer and flute maker who was a major figure in 19th century flute design. For this project, she performed Clinton's music on seven flutes manufactured by Clinton & Co. over 150 years ago! This research has been presented to the National Flute Association and the British Flute Society.

She also recorded and toured previously with her chamber ensemble for flute and strings, the Silverwood Quartet, which has performed throughout the United States and in Japan, including a gala performance for the National Flute Association. The group explores popular and world music in addition to the classical repertoire. Also the group's primary arranger, Andra's creative charts capture the musical essence of styles ranging from Irish traditional to Tibetan Chant and alternative rock and roll. Their CD, A Celtic Mosaic, explores a variety of unique and original music from Celtic sources including music from Riverdance, Lord of the Rings, Ballykissangel and a trilogy of tunes by Loreena McKennitt. About The Classic Rock Album, rock icon Ian Anderson, flutist and leader of Jethro Tull, said, "Many thanks for the CD. I enjoyed it very much and especially the variety of musical styles it incorporated. Keep up the good work and help bring the worlds of pop/rock and the Classical traditions together."

Andra performs and records on flutes of all shapes and sizes (classical, traditional wooden, baroque and a variety of ethnic instruments), as well as Celtic harp. She has performed and presented at several National Flute Association Conventions as well as the Canadian Flute Convention, World Flute and British Flute Societies. In addition to fluting, Andra is a master martial artist, yogi, avid snow skier, techno-geek, and alternatively wishes she was a hobbit or a Jedi knight!

Andy Kruspe is a music educator and percussionist from Huntsville, Alabama (USA), where he teaches private students, concert bands, marching bands, percussion ensembles, and indoor drum lines. He holds degrees from Louisiana State University and the University of Central Florida.

Andy has performed and recorded with several Celtic artists in the southeastern United States, including Black Market Haggis, David Coe, Candace Corrigan, Mithril, and SlipJig. He has also taught workshops and masterclasses on the bodhrán at several universities and festivals. In 2013, he presented a clinic entitled “The Irish Bodhrán in Context: Celebrating the Evolutions of a Modern Tradition” with Dr. Kyle Forsthoff at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in Indianapolis, Indiana (USA).

Andy has spent several years studying the bodhrán both in the United States and abroad, including spending several summers at Craiceann- The Bodhrán Summer School on Inis Oírr, County Galway, Ireland. In May of 2014, he won the Over 18 division for the bodhrán at the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Midwest Fleadh in St. Louis, Missouri.

 

In 2014, he published an extensive method book titled The Bodhrán Primer. In 2015, the book was reviewed in Percussive Notes, the journal of the Percussive Arts Society. Reviewer N. Scott Robinson stated in this review that this book was “…quite possibly the best resource on Irish bodhrán by a musician born outside of Ireland.” His second book, Playing the Tune, was released in 2015. A review in the December 2016 issue of Percussive Notes stated that this book “provides percussionists with another excellent resource, furthering the pedagogical materials available on the performance practice of the bodhrán.” His third book, First Steps: A Beginner’s Guide to the Bodhrán was released in early 2017.

 

He is an Educational Endorser for Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets and an Artist Endorser for Rebellion Drums.

Andy is happily married to his high school sweetheart, Rachel. When they are not working, they spend their free time traveling, finding good eats, and sampling really good beers.

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