Lake School 2026

Hilary Glaisher

Stars on the Lake

Hilary is a fiddle player and singer from Naarm/Melbourne, and feels lucky to have been part of the Australian folk and Irish music community from an early age. Hilary attended her first Lake School in 2008, and was part of the 2009 Stars on the Lake band, Dram (subsequently Evelyn’s Secret). She loves sharing and teaching music, and has taught at music camps in both Australia and Scotland.

Hilary also performs with Melbourne bands Tolka and The Counsel.

Ciarán O’Grady

Tune Writing

Ciarán O’Grady is widely regarded as one of the leading concertina players of his generation. Growing up within the vibrant Irish music diaspora in England, Ciarán was largely self-taught, spending long family trips to Ireland each summer immersing himself in the music and learning directly from legendary Irish musicians.

As a prolific composer, Ciarán’s tunes have become staples in the Irish traditional music scene, with favourites like Dingle David often heard in sessions across Ireland. His work has also achieved international recognition, featuring on Beoga’s Grammy long-listed album in 2010 and more recently in electrifying performances by the acclaimed Australian folk band, Austral.

Ciarán’s workshops aim to demystify the process of composition, encouraging participants to find inspiration in people, places, and everyday moments, while drawing on the rich heritage of Irish music. Whether you’re an experienced player or entirely new to composing, his engaging and approachable teaching style will help you uncover your creative spark. Simply bring an instrument, a pen, and paper—and prepare to be inspired!

Ewen Baker

Advanced Mandolin and Adult Fiddle

Ewen Baker is a fiddle and mandolin tutor. Ewen has a relaxed and down-to-earth teaching style that gets the basics of Celtic style across to his students.

Ewen Baker is a multi-instrumentalist teacher and recording artist living in Melbourne. As a fiddler and mandolin player he has toured with Shane Howard, and many other folkie combos. In recent years he has produced a CD of Paddy Fitzgerald’s accordion music, and has devoted himself his teaching and making violins and guitars.

Niamh Molloy

Concertina

Originally from Galway, Ireland, Niamh has grown up with a grá for both Irish traditional and classical music. Taught and inspired by the renowned Bernie and Holly Geraghty, she was deeply immersed in the vibrant Irish trad scene from a young age.

A seasoned performer, Niamh has competed in the All-Ireland Fleadh, holding titles in concertina, Grúpa Ceoil, and Céilí Band. Her musical journey has seen her perform at the National Concert Hall with Michael Rooney’s Meitheal orchestra, as well as in Siansa competitions and the National Youth Orchestra.

Having shared her love of Irish music across Boston, Edinburgh, and now Melbourne, Niamh continues to celebrate and share her roots – most recently performing alongside rising Irish band Kingfishr.

Kate Boylan

Lake School Readers

Kate Boylan is an artist, musician, and literature graduate from Co Kildare, Ireland. She grew up in a musical family and has a deep connection to the tunes, songs, stories, landscape and nature of Ireland. She has a background in Irish literature and specialised in the poetry and literary productions of WB Yeats during her undergraduate.

She is excited to share her knowledge of 20th century Irish poetry and prose, and looks forward to discussion and analysis with attendees of the Joyce Readers at the Lake School, this year.

Ruth Boylan

Irish Language

Ruth Boylan is a concertina and fiddle player from Ireland. She learned to play the concertina from the renowned concertina player Micheal O’ Raghallaigh and the fiddle from the Roscommon fiddle player Mary Greevy.

Ruth has won many All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil titles and was a leading fiddle player for the Beartla O’Flatharta Ceili Band for over ten years. Ruth enjoys performing and teaching both young and old at music festivals locally and internationally. 

Allan Evans

Beginner Kids Whistle & Flute

Allan hails from Taradale in Central Victoria. His love for Irish music began as a teenager, teaching himself the tin whistle and soon after taking up Irish flute and harp.

He now performs with award-winning bands Tolka and Trioc and has travelled around Australia and internationally with his music.

Jim Green

Advanced Guitar / Beginner Mandolin

Jim Green has been part of the Melbourne folk music scene for a good while, playing in pub and festival bands Cool MacFinn, Erin’s Pride, Bulabos and The Gleaners.

As well as writing three solo albums Jim has recently joined the Rambling Roses, a groove band who sound a bit like Little Feat. A passionate teacher, Jim has taught guitar and mandolin in schools and music camps over the last ten years.

Ronni Corby

Beginner & Kids Fiddle

Roni has been attending the Lake School since she was 7 years old, and has twice been a participant in the Stars on the Lake program. She has recently completed a Bachelor of Music, and is looking forward to passing her love of this genre on to other students of the Lake School.

Lindsay Barbary

Beginner & Kids Bodhran

Lindsay has been attending lake school since 2012, going to bodhran classes every year under the tutelage of Leahman and Peter. He has been involved in the youth ensemble for many years and was one of the 2024 Stars of the Lake, performing at the Port Fairy Folk Festival. Whilst LIndsay follows the bodhran tradition, he has developed a unique style which he is excited to share with new learners.

Polly Christie

Big Welcome Sing and Choral Singing

For over 20 years Polly Christie has opened people’s hearts by teaching them to sing. Polly established Pollyphonics Choir in 2008 in the Macedon Ranges, creating vibrant, soulful, choral performances ever since.

In 2026 Polly will lead “Choral Singing with Polly” for intermediate singers. Learn a song in 4-part harmony, develop vocal tone, dynamics and choral blending. She will also host the Big Welcome Sing in the Botanical Gardens on the first morning (weather permitting) to help us get our voices warmed up for the week ahead! 

Cathy Blake      

Adult Fiddle and Kids Fiddle

Cathy Blake is an experienced violin and viola teacher with over 40 years of teaching and performing experience. Based in Geelong, she runs a private teaching studio and performs regularly with the Melbourne Scottish Fiddlers and her family.

Cathy loves sharing tunes and fostering community through music, especially at camps and gatherings. She is passionate about encouraging fiddle players of all ages and stages on their musical journey.

In her fiddle classes, participants will learn tunes by ear, with sheet music handouts available to take home.

Jody Moran

Tenor Banjo & Irish Music 

Jody is accomplished on a variety of instruments and, whilst well known for his tenor banjo playing, is also an All-Ireland winner on tin whistle. He has also twice won the gold medal in the newly composed tune category at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann. Based predominantly in northern England in his youth, he performed at international level with the Leeds Ceili Band and was a regular tutor at music festivals including Willie Clancy Summer School and Tocane (France).

Since emigrating to Wodonga, Australia with his family over a decade ago he has been nurturing the scene in the North East of Victoria with a twice annual traditional music festival from where he helped direct and produce a Ceili House broadcast in late 2012. He is also a mainstay in the newly formed Facebook group, ‘Banjoheads’.  

Patrick Evans

Guitar

Patrick Evans is a Melbourne based musician and guitar maker. He is an accomplished guitarist, fiddle player, singer and songwriter whose musical roots are strongly based in the Australian and Celtic folk 

traditions. Patrick has played with many of Australia’s folk luminaries over many years and brings a wealth of experience to the Lake School. He is really looking forward to sharing some of his experience and skills with this year’s group of aspiring guitar players.

Declan Simpson

DADGAD

Declan is a seasoned fiddler and guitarist deeply ingrained in the Irish music scene since 2005.

With countless trips to Ireland including a year spent in Dublin, he’s honed his skills and now performs with The Simpson Three, and many other Irish bands and musicians around Australia. With a Bachelor of Music, Declan is a professional musician with a wealth of experience, both in performing shows and playing in sessions. 

Kevin McCarthy

Pub Singers

Kevin McCarthy is a Darwin/Garramilla-based singer songwriter and
activist who performs with Crocodile Country, McCarthy’s Lore and The
Stealth Brothers, and is a very long-time Lake Schooler and a proud Life
Member! He is also the co-producer of Darwin’s notorious “With
Seditious Intent” performances at the Greenhouse in Nightcliff NT.

Kevin will be leading the Pub Singers again in 2026 (ably assisted by
Mayo native Marty Ruane). The Pub Singers will meet daily at Mickey
Bourke’s Hotel (2:30 – 4:00pm). Kevin is also hosting a Songwriters
Session at Mickey Bourke’s Hotel from 8:00pm on Saturday January 3 –
songwriters of all ages/genres/experience are very welcome to come along
and share their songs.

Andy Rigby

Harp & Parade

Andy is our Harp tutor and parade master. Andy is a regular tutor and performer at the annual Turramurra Music Camp (Otways, January) and programmer for the Rosewood Music Camp (Strathbogies, September). The parade musicians will lead the Parade to the School photo from Mickey Bourke’s at 1.15pm on January 6. Andy was inducted as a Lake School Legend of the Lake in 2019. 

Mark and Lisa McDonnell

Slow Session

Mark and Lisa McDonnell lead the Slow Session at Dukes Commercial Hotel each morning and lead House Parties there most nights of the Lake School except Jan 4th when they host at the Kirkstall Hotel. Mark and Lisa’s sessions are great for intermediate players and beginners who are finding their way in sessions.

The House Parties are also great entertainment – all are encouraged, everyone gets a go and lots of players, singers and dancers turn up to add to the variety

John Corby

Adult Whistle and Advanced Kids Whistle

John Corby better known as ‘Corbs’ was inspired to take up the flute by the playing of Ian Anderson in the 80s. As time progressed Corbs came to hear, love and learn to play the folk style of Matt Malloy and Willie Clancy.

His passion for this style of music continues and each week of the school year he shares this love with a dedicated tunes group made up of students from Nagle College in Bairnsdale. 

Jack Brennan

Whistle Program & Pipes

Jack Brennan is a veteran of the Irish traditional music scene in Australia, and is one of the finest Uilleann pipers and Low whistle players in the country. He has performed at many of the best-known festivals in South Australia and Interstate over the years including Womad, Port Fairy, Woodford and the Portarlington National Celtic Festival.

He has worked on film scores, and has a number of CDs to his credit. Jack is also a talented reed and pipe maker and is now making Concert D Uilleann Pipes. In 2013 Jack was inducted as a ‘Legend of The Lake’ to recognise his contribution as a tutor with the Koroit Lake School over many years.  

Merran Moir   

Stars On The Lake & Whistle

Merran grew up in a musical family. ‘There was always music of some kind in the house; bringing happy memories of frequent travels for music, performances, and céilidhes’.

She is active in numerous community music groups, sessions and bands including The Southern Ocean Sea Band. A music teacher by profession, this year Merran takes over Youth Ensemble, and will present The Stars on The Lake in a new format as The Stars Ceilidh Band.

Peter Somerville

5 String Banjo

Peter returns to teach 5 string banjo, including both clawhammer and 3 finger styles. He has performed and worked as a session musician for many years, recorded with Paul Kelly, toured the USA with The Rank Strangers, and played 6 months of gigs in Japan and many national music festivals. He has also played in bush bands and Irish bands, and has mastered jigs, reels and polkas on the 5 string and is keen to share his knowledge. He will be teaching some easy tunes by ear, for which tablature will also be available. 

Peter will also host the Bluegrass Pick, an informal, fun session where participants will learn and play along with some classic American songs and tunes. 

Helen Begley

Songwriting

Helen Begley swaps tutor hats to lead the songwriting sessions at Lake School this year. Like a songwriting midwife, she’ll use creative exercises, song writing challenges and editing tips to help you birth your new song. Special guest musicians will be on hand to bathe your song in textures and sounds, and musical collaborations within the songwriter playpen will be encouraged.

At the end of the week, there’ll be a chance to share your work in a special concert with Lake School family and friends. Helen brings a lifetime of songwriting, performing, recording, teaching and facilitation experience. She’ll be there to support your songwriter self whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned songwriter. This is going to be a ripper week of musicking (yes, it is a word), songwriters!

Peter Moir    

Adult Bodhran     

Peter is an experienced Drum Line leader and long time Lake School member and bodhran supporter. 

Marie Brouder      

Set Dancing

Marie joined the Lake School as dance tutor in 2010 and returns again this year. Marie will be teaching Irish set dances and sean nos dance at the Senior Citizens Hall.

The dancers will present some of the dances they have learnt as Marie calls the dances at the Op Shop Family Céilidhe, Marie arrived in Melbourne from Ireland in 1988 and brings a wealth of experience and good humour to her teaching. Marie is also our 2014 Legend of the Lake. 

Cora Browne          

Lake Singers

Cora (she/her) is a regular performer in many musical line ups around Melbourne, including with fellow Lake School tutor Pat Evans as Play It Martha. She can also be found treading the boards in several plays written by our own Felix Meagher, including The Man They Call The Banjo, Barry Versus Kelly, and his newest work Adventure Before Dementia.

Cora welcomes everyone to come along and experience the joy of community singing and developing their Celtic repertoire. No previous experience is necessary, just a willingness to make sounds with your mouth! 

Colin Driscoll   

Poetry Workshop

Colin is an Ararat based bush poet who has performed at many festivals and events around Australia. He is a seasoned actor, now performing in Meagher and O’Keeffe’s The Man They Call The Banjo and Barry Versus Kelly.

Colin, who has been leading the Spud Poets night since 2014 became the Lake School Poetry Workshop tutor in 2016 and his poetry sessions go from strength to strength. 

Youth Program

Lucinda Clutterbuck & Lewis Argall. Youth Program

Lucinda and Lewis have led the Art Shed group for many years, and always delight with the creative adventures they facilitate for the youth participants. Using a variety of media from stop motion animation to painting and harnessing youthful energy to support a local worthy cause each year, something is always happening. Youth program participants are well engaged and satisfied in the adolescent sanctuary of the Scout Hall Back Room. Come along to the Koroit Scout Hall and find what exciting things the Art Shed Group are up to this year.

Ray’s youth filmmaking group has provided us with many highlights over the years, and we look forward to what the group will make this year. Ray is an experienced feature film maker and editor and in the last few years has released Midnight Oil 1984. 

Bruce Watson

Ukulele

Bruce Watson makes ukulele workshops great fun, creating a relaxed, fun and joyous atmosphere, while teaching techniques, tips and tricks – without you even realising it! His workshops cater for beginners but also provide for more experienced players by arranging tunes to include simple parts as well as more challenging parts for intermediate or experienced players.

Put it all together and you have great music everyone can help make. It’s empowering, it’s inspiring, and it’s fun!

Angus Barbary

Angus has developed a uniquely Australian fiddle style by playing amongst his contemporaries. He has performed, taught workshops and played in sessions at folk festivals all over Australia and abroad. In 2014 Angus started a cracking ‘open door’ session at the Gaelic Club in Sydney that continues today. Friendly and energetic, he is now based in Melbourne with recently formed Australian trad band ‘Austral’.

Felix Meagher

Youth Ensemble and Vintage Beginners

Felix Meagher is a composer, authour and musician resident in Melbourne.
Felix is the manager and a performer in the band Bushwahzee which has
toured its one day productions to over 2000 schools around Australia.

Felix is the co-creator, and is the recently retired Program Director of
25 stagings of The Lake School of Celtic Music in Koroit, and author of
the musical plays_ The Man They Call The Banjo_ and _Barry Versus Kelly.

Felix is tutoring this year’s Youth Ensemble and Vintage Beginners.

Louise Conroy

Uilleann Piping

Louise Conroy is a multi-instrumentalist who is at The Lake School to support and assist those new to the wonderful world of Uilleann Piping. Louise performs with the Tune Bunnies and has played a major part in establishing Session Players Tasmania and creating the annual Deloraine Celtic Music School.

Louise is passionate about Uilleann Piping, and has been fortunate to learn Uilleann Piping under the guidance of Heath Richardson.

Tess Hickey

Cellos

Tess Hickey has been playing trad cello since she was introduced to it at the 2011 Lake School, more recently with her neo-trad band Apolline who have been performing at festivals around Australia and Canada. She thoroughly enjoys experimenting with the various roles the cello can play in trad, which includes figuring out how to adapt fiddle tunes for cello, as well as developing contemporary accompaniment techniques.

Johanna (Jo) Clancy

Breadmaking

Johanna (Jo) Clancy was born in Kilkenny but has lived in East Gippsland for the past 30 years. A retired secondary teacher who loves all aspects of Irish culture and traditions. Jo is looking forward to sharing the nuances of Soda Bread making with Lake School participants. Meet Jo in the Koroit Theatre Kitchen from 5.00pm on your allocated day.