St. Louis Irish Arts www.slia.org
7480 Whitehaven Drive St. Louis MO 63123 314.849.1662 info@slia.org
As the youngest child of Helen and PJ Gannon, Eileen was born into music at St. Louis Irish Arts. She began playing Irish harp at the age of seven. Eileen competed in the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which is the All-Ireland Music Championships, and won the Senior Harp All-Ireland in 2000.
Eileen earned the Bronze Congressional Medal. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in music from St. Louis University and masters degree in ethonmusicology from the University of Limerick in Ireland.
Eileen completed the Teastais Teagaisc Cheol Tíre (TTCT) course, a program created by Comhaltas to certify teachers of traditional Irish music, in 2002.
Eileen has played with several groups over the years including Misla, an Irish group of St. Louis Irish Arts former students and teachers, The Banks Ceili Band, Grace Basement, the musicians of Bunratty Castle and John Whelan. Eileen has recorded on all of the St. Louis Irish Arts albums including the most recent St. Louis Irish Arts recording PJ and Eileen Gannon on Harmonica and Harp. She has also recorded with other musicians and groups including Tommy Martin, Fancey and the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra.
Eileen has been teaching at St. Louis Irish Arts for 16 years in both class and private lesson settings. She specializes in Irish harp but teaches classical harp technique in conjunction with the Irish repertoire. Currently Eileen conducts classes for grupai cheoil, harp and piano accompaniment. Many of Eileen’s students have competed at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann over the years and several have brought home All-Ireland titles. Eileen also teaches at the Scoil Eigse music school during the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann festivities every summer and will return to Tullamore as a teacher in this Comhaltas program again in August 2008. As a TTCT recipient, Eileen is regularly invited to adjudicate at qualifying fleadh competitions as well as the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
Aside from teaching Irish music at St. Louis Irish Arts, Eileen is an aerobics instructor and a dance specialist for Springboard to Learning - a not-for-profit program that provides cultural opportunities for St. Louis public school students.
Eileen loves playing the harp.
Eileen with several harp studetnts during Summer Camp 2008
“Madam Cole/Conway’s”
St. Louis Irish Arts III
An arrangement for seven harps by Tracey Fleming featuring Eileen Gannon & her harp students.
“Sliabh Guillean/The Ash Plant”
St. Louis Irish Arts II
Eileen Gannon
