Deeply rooted in Irish traditional music, Boston-based flute player/singer/composer Shannon Heaton has appeared on stages with duo Matt & Shannon Heaton, and with other traditional performers from around the world, including dancers Kieran Jordan and Kevin Doyle, Tokyo-based tricolor, and guitarist/singer Keith Murphy. As ambassador of the tradition, Shannon hosts the culture podcast Irish Music Stories, and her free Tune of the Month video series and instructional books cater to students of Irish music. Stretching from pure traditional music, Shannon also composes for winds, strings, and piano in various contexts. Heaton received a 2016 Artist Fellowship from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Live Ireland named her Female Artist of the Year in 2011 and 2010, and Irish American News named her 2009 Female Musician of the Year.
Interviewed by Tamar Sella, 09/24/2020.