St. Louis Irish Arts  www.slia.org

 7480 Whitehaven Drive       St. Louis MO  63123        314.849.1662        info@slia.org

Kelly Winter

A St. Louis native, Kelly became a St. Louis Irish Arts student at the age of seven studying accordion and dancing.  In 1995, Kelly made her first trip to Ireland to compete in the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which is the All-Ireland Music Championships and has competed every summer since.  In 1998, Kelly placed third at the All-Ireland Fleadh on the accordion.

Kelly earned the Gold Congressional Medal in 2001.  She received a bachelor of arts degree from St. Louis University.  Kelly also studied in Ireland for a year at the University College Galway in 2003. 

Kelly has played with several Irish groups over the years including Misla, The Banks Ceili Band, Glen Road, and Emerald Beat - the traditional musicians playing at Busch Gardens Virginia Beach.  Kelly also plays regularly throughout the year at John D. McGurk’s Irish Pub with various artists.  Kelly is one of the few musicians to record on all four albums of St. Louis Irish Arts and has also recorded with other traditional musicians including Joe Kile. 

Currently, Kelly teaches several groups of students at St. Louis Irish Arts including accordions, concertinas, the senior grupai cheoil, and the under 12 grupai cheoil.  Several of Kelly’s students have competed at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann including Natasha Sanford who has placed twice in the accordion competition. 

Kelly was invited to teach at Scoil Eigse - which she attended in youth - during the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann festivities in Tullamore, Ireland in 2007.  Kelly will return to Tullamore as a teacher at this Comhaltas program again in 2008.

In addition to teaching Irish music at St. Louis Irish Arts, Kelly plays regular gigs with various Irish groups and musicians.  She is also a sought after player for feisanna, which are Irish dance competitions, all over the United States. 

“Maid Behind the Bar/Johnny’s Wedding”

St. Louis Irish Arts II

Kelly Winter & Niall Gannon

“The Butterfly/O’Keefe’s/Johnny I Do Still Love You”

St. Louis Irish Arts I

SLIA Grupai Cheoil with Kelly Winter on accordion

Kelly with her students Olivia & Natasha 2008