Amy Richter: bodhrán, percussion

Amy Richter bodhran and percussion | athas

A two-time Midwest Fleadh Cheoil champion on the bodhrán, Amy Richter has gone on to compete in the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Letterkenny (2006) and Cavan (2012), Ireland. She’s been performing Irish music since 2003 and teaching since 2007. 

Amy has been touring the states since 2017 with world renowned trad super group, Danú. In January of 2019 Amy accompanied Danú in Ireland for their televised performance at the Temple Bar Tradfest in Dublin. She can be found on two of Danú’s albums, Ten Thousand Miles and An Emerald Isle Christmas. In December of 2018 Amy joined up with Kerry Irish Productions for a month long tour throughout California and Arizona. The production titled, An Irish Christmas featured Amy on bodhrán, Ryan McKasson on fiddle, Jesse Langen on guitar and Riverdance principle dancer, Caterina Coyne.

Amy was interviewed for an online newsletter featuring female bodhrán players titled: Fanny Power - beating the drum for women bodhrán players in 2020. She’s also currently working on a publication with Hal Leonard titled, Bodhrán Method. Look for it to hit the shelves in 2021!

Amy is a founding member of áthas, a Milwaukee based band proud to be bringing joy and happiness to all their fans for the past 15+ years. In celebration of their 10 year anniversary áthas released an album of live tracks & rarities titled 10 for 10. áthas has become a favorite act at Irish music's premier event, Milwaukee Irish Fest, gathering praise for the excitement of their stage shows and the energy they display in the dance tent. 

A highly sought after instructor, Amy has taught both in the U.S. and Ireland. Locally, she's been a longtime faculty member for the Milwaukee Irish Fest School of Music. Abroad, she’s taught alongside some of the greats at Junior Davey’s Bodhrán Academy in County Sligo and virtually at the BúlaBuzz internationl bodhrán summer school. Within the states she’s taken the helm for the rhythm workshops at Alasdair Fraser’s highly acclaimed Scottish Fiddling School, Valley of the Moon.

Other than touring with Danú, Amy has also had the honor of accompanying Lúnasa during several of their Midwest shows, her most memorable being their performance at the 35th Annual Milwaukee Irish Fest. She's also played alongside accordion extraordinaire, John Whelan for several years at the annual Milwaukee Midwinter Set Dance Weekend, and toured the east coast with Chicago based band, Bua back in the summer of 2010.

In 2005 Amy received the Celtic Studies Certificate from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and was the 2008 recipient of the Ed Ward Irish Music Scholarship. She's studied abroad at the University of Limerick under the direction of Dr.'s Niall Keegan and Sandra Joyce, directors of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.  

Amy’s mentors and inspirations on the bodhrán include Paul Phillips, Junior Davey, Martin O'Neill, Colm Phelan, Eamon Murray, Jackie Moran, Paul Marshall, John Joe Kelly, Seamus O’Kane, Pat Roe, Rob Forkner, David Burns and Mick Dunphy.

Amy plays bodhrán's made by Mike Quinlan.

Visit Amy’s personal website.

Photo credit: Rick Hoakans