The Band:
Eric Newcott (fiddle/uilleann pipes/ballad singer/director) a graduate of Eastern Virginia
Medical School and resident in obstetrics and gynecology at Texas Tech. University Health Sciences Center, Odessa, TX, studied Irish traditional fiddling, Uilleann pipering, ethnomusicology, Irish language, Irish music history, and Irish set/step dancing at University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. He also completed a minor in violin performance at Old Domininon University in conjunction with his premedical studies and is a 1st violinist in the Virginia Beach Symphony Orchestra. Eric grew up in New Hampshire with the Strathspey and Reel Society of New Hampshire, a Scottish fiddle orchestra, and was also a regular in the Milford, NH contra dance band.
Anthony "Tip" Ciotti (Accordion) is a dentist in Virginia Beach with an extensive education in classical accordion and past membership in the Accordion Pops Orchestra. He has traveled the world as a medical officer in the United States Navy from which he has developed an incredible repertoire of European folk and popular music. Tip is an especially avid devotee of the ballads and songs of Italy, France, Spain, and Germany in addition to having an undying love of Irish and Scottish traditional music.
Carol Ciotti (Percussion) is a dentist in the Virginia Beach area. As a member of the band, she plays a  unique percussive instrument called he marimbula. This instrument is a type of “super sized wooden thumb piano” which produces a sound similar to a double base. She also plays claves, spoons and another unusual instrument called the Trik Ballak – a type of wooden tambourine. With lots of audience participation, she also leads sing-a-longs for a variety of Irish and American tunes.
 Jay Taylor (Tin whistle/Guitar/Voice) is a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with older adults. He also is involved in several non-profit organizations including Wetlands Watch, and the Norfolk Community Services Board. Jay’s passion for music has found expression in many ways. He has sung with the Virginia Opera Chorus and the Virginia Symphony Chorus. He has performed lead roles with the Virginia Beach Little Theater, the Norfolk Savoyards and The Commonwealth Musical Stage. Jay has been a member of the Cavalier Consort, singing and performing early music; and, for the past several years, has performed with Aurora, a voice and harp duo, performing recitals at the Chrysler Museum of Art and at historic houses in Hampton Roads. Jay also plays Baroque recorders with Old Dominion University's Collegium Musicum. Though Jay's love of music has carried him through many musical styles and periods, his first love was the folk music of the British Isles and Ireland.
  Annie Gilstrap (Flute & Vocals) is our public health advocate. Her work at WHRO, Hampton Roads Public Broadcasting Service, includes overseeing the scientific education of the children (and future healthcare professionals) of southeast Virginia. She has played with the Catholic Campus Ministry Choir, Sacred Heart Contemporary Choir, the Hampton Roads Flute Choir, Refuge Choir, and continued her flute training with Danielle Gerard of DnD Music. She has also trained her vocals with Dr. Tom DeGraaf of Sanctuary Music Ministries, Hurrah Players, and Danielle Gerard of DnD Music.
 Jim Cook (Fiddle) now retired but still fiddling, divides his time between Symphonicity, the symphony orchestra of Virginia Beach, Leigheas and the Belfast Bay Fiddlers. He has studied Scottish fiddling with John Turner, and at the Gallic College in Cape Breton.
Jim Edwards (Fiddle/Bodhran) received his formal music training at the University of Southern Maine, Centenary College of Louisiana, and Old Dominion University, where he completed his Bachelor of Music degree. While there he studied violin with concert violist, Amadi Hummings. After graduating he continued his studies with Dora Mullins, former violin instructor at the Juilliard School in New York and concertmaster of the Virginia Symphony and Virginia Beach Symphony.
As a violinist (fiddler) and violist he has performed with numerous musicians in the Hampton
Roads area including the Virginia Beach Symphony. In 2007 he became a founding member
of the Virginia Beach Chamber Orchestra and currently holds the position of principal second
violin. He has also appeared as a soloist with the orchestra. Jim is a founding member of the
Irish band Leigheas, having appeared with them since their first gig in 1998.
Jim has served as a band and orchestra teacher in public and private schools since 1983 and has
taught general music, band and strings at Stonebridge School in Chesapeake, VA since 2003. He
has also served as a church music director in numerous churches, currently holding that position
at Foundry United Methodist in Virginia Beach. Jim and his wife, Jessica run a private music
academy, Lightshine Music Academy, and home-school their four children.
http://www.classicol.com/viola/jimedwards.cfm
Bill Tew (Keyboard) is a retired public school music teacher. He keeps busy in the Virginia Choral Societyand as a substitute organist-choir director healing the spiritual souls on the Peninsula at many churches.
Stephen Cunningham (Bodhran/tin whistles) is a physician and master of Irish slow airs. He is a former member of the Hampton/Newport News based-band Skellig Michael.
David March (Fiddle) is trained in the art of wilderness/survival medicine and is a professional animator. David is a violinist for the Virginia Beach Symphony Orchestra and has also been known to frequent nursing homes with his fiddle. He has spent many years in the Chicago and San Francisco Irish and Scottish musical communities. http://www.homepage.mac.com/dmarchfiddle
Tom Schlater (Guitar) is a Naval officer and an optometrist. Most of his off duty time is spent with his family. He can frequently be found accompanying his wife, Rose, as she sings at local retirement homes, nursing homes, and in the summer time at the beach. He has been known to give sporadic guitar performances for Grace Bible Church, the Tidewater Classical Guitar Society, the Tidewater Friends of Folk Music, and other groups.
Margaret Freeman (Guitar & Vocals)
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
