Michele Venegas is the owner and director of Joyful Sounds Music Studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  She considers it pure joy to spend her days working with families and young children teaching Suzuki violin and Music Together classes.  Although she discovered Celtic music late in life, she developed a passion for it and began playing with the regionally acclaimed band Fonn Mohr for several years before joining An Dro.  Her distinctive fiddle style has been heard at many Irish festivals including the prestigious Milwaukee Irish Fest, Chicago Celtic Festival, Saline Celtic Festival, and the Michigan Irish Fest.  

 
 Fred Willson started playing guitar at age 8.  He was active in his high school music program before attending the University of Michigan School of Music in Ann Arbor, MI.  After teaching wind instruments in Israel for two years, Fred studied classical guitar.  Then he discovered the Celtic music scene and the musical direction that he was looking for.  He was a founding member of the Irish music group Amadaun which played countless engagements and released two CD’s over the course of a decade-long span.  In addition to guitar, Fred plays mandolin and is exploring the banjo.  His interests include Celtic, Old Time, Classical, Jazz, and traditional music of all styles.  Fred has a teaching practice and is accepting students at his home studio near Caledonia, MI. 

 James Spalink is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist.  His studies on classical guitar led to an interest in early instruments, including lute, Celtic harp, hurdy-gurdy, bouzouki, and recorders.  He even became  a luthier, building a number of the instruments he now plays.  Jim has performed at the Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire, the Michigan Renaissance Festival, and the annual GRCC Musicall Feaste.  He began making music with Fred in the early 90’s in the Celtic group Amadaun and went on to found  his own band Puck Faire.  Jim is also a producer of early music recordings from his home studio in Rockford, MI.  You can hear samples at www.jamesspalink.com.

 Carolyn Koebel has created a truly unique voice in her fusion of classical percussion sensibilities and diverse world percussion styles. She has entertained audiences far and wide as the pivotal percussionist in the award-winning Celtic dance-band, Fonn Mor. She has performed with the art ensemble Blue Dahlia for well over a decade, presenting original soundtracks for silent film and modern dance at theatres and festivals throughout the region. She also performs regularly with Dunuya Drum & Dance, Grammy-award winning flutist Rhonda Larson & Ventus, and various regional groups, and is featured on numerous recordings. She looks forward to the release of her newest album project with U.S. Scottish National fiddle champion Melinda Crawford. She works as a music therapist in hospice care and presents percussion workshops nationally for the American Music Therapy Association. Visit www.carolynkoebel.com for more info.