Today I’m going to start a series called “The Anchor Spotlight.” Today’s Anchor in the Spotlight is Benedict Gagliardi. We know Ben as an upbeat concertina virtuoso with a penchant for interesting tune types such as mazurkas, barn dances and hop jigs. We certainly appreciate what he brings to the session, and we are grateful that he’s willing to drive all the way from Connecticut to join us when he can.
It was brought to my attention that Ben and a friend, Jon Warner, competed in the Comhaltas North American Convention and Regional Fleadh Cheoil in New Jersey back in June of 2014 and that they won first place in the duets category. Go Ben and Jon! I can’t embed a video from the Comhaltas website, but if you click on the picture below you will be taken to the video directly.
Jon Warner, left, and Ben Gagliardi.
Ben has also been in various bands–Full Gael and more recently, The Vox Hunters, with Armond Aromin. In addition, he is an instructor at the Connecticut Acadamy of Irish Music, where he teaches concertina and leads the Academy’s slow session. For Ben’s official Bio, go to the “Our Anchors” page.
Lower Valley Irish Slow Session 