IRISH FIDDLE

MAGGIE WORLEY, Irish Fiddle

Due to her parents’ appreciation for the arts, Maggie Worley was given many opportunities to pursue musical interests as a child. At age seven, she began playing piano, classical violin, and bluegrass and Irish fiddle. Even as a youngster, she spent many evenings in Irish pubs, learning much from elderly musicians who had brought a rich store of music and stories with them from Ireland. It was in those informal gatherings she first learned to treasure the joy weaved into Irish traditional music and the warmth of the Irish music community. She also attended many jams and bluegrass fiddle competitions during this time, twice earning the title of Illinois State Fiddle Champion before focusing solely on Irish music. As a member of the Irish Music School of Chicago, Maggie traveled to Ireland on two occasions to compete in the All-Ireland (world championships) in several events. In 2008, she won second place with her music school in the All Ireland 15-18 Grupai Cheoil (music ensemble) competition.

      After receiving a BA in American Studies from Hillsdale College, Maggie returned to the Chicago area to teach elementary school. In the midst of teaching, she spent evenings playing Irish music professionally, performing and leading sessions alongside John Williams (concertina virtuoso and multi-instrumentalist of the a Irish band Solas), Irish Tenor Paddy Homan, guitarist/singer Jimmy Moore and many more friends active in the Chicago Irish music scene.

      While Maggie’s musical journey has certainly involved competition and performance, it has also provided equally many teaching opportunities. She began teaching fiddle to young children when she was twelve years old and, with few interruptions, has continued to offer lessons to fiddlers of all ages in the more than two decades since. She finds great fulfillment in helping students learn a new skill or push through to a greater level of proficiency. Above all, she loves passing on the rich tradition of Irish music that was shared so generously with her over the years. In her lessons, she helps students strengthen their ear learning abilities, master traditional ornamentation, and immerse themselves in the style through intentional listening. She also encourages musicians to attend local sessions as Irish music (or any kind of music!) is made much sweeter in community. 

     Maggie lives in Warrenville with her husband Daryle and their five children. When she isn’t playing jigs and reels, Maggie can be found homeschooling her children, hanging out at whatever is happening at church, and writing music with her husband, who is a music minister.