Center for Irish Music Staff

Norah Rendell

Executive Artistic Director

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Norah is a dedicated music educator with over 10 years of experience in arts administration and management. She has a masters in Irish traditional music performance from the University of Limerick in Ireland and a bachelor of music degree with a major in music education and Early Music Performance from McGill University. Norah is also an award-winning singer and Irish flute-player with an active performing career as a soloist and with the Two Tap Trio.  From 2006-2013, she toured internationally as lead vocalist and of UK/Ireland-based band, The Outside Track.

Norah has given guest lectures and workshops at University College Cork, the University of Limerick, the Folk Steps Conference in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia and Augusta Heritage Center in West Virginia.  Her performances have been featured live on MPR's Heartland Radio, CBC's Canada Live, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Scotland and Radio nan Gaidheal. Norah's recordings have been broadcast on the CBC, BBC, RTÉ Radio na Gaeltachta (Ireland) and on folk shows across Canada and the United States.

Mattie Ernst

Accountant

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Mattie comes to the CIM with experience as an entrepreneur and owner of her sewing pattern business Ernest Threads, and through coursework in accounting from UCLA Extension and Normandale Community College. Mattie is also an instructor at the Center for Irish Music and a long-standing member of the Irish music and dance community. She fell in love with Irish music when she started playing harp at the age of 12 after having started as a violinist as a young child. Originally a student at the CIM, she is now a regular musician at local sessions on the concertina and fiddle.  On fiddle, Mattie has studied under great players such as Jode Dowling, Bill Hinckley, and Connie O’Connell. Familiar with both classical and Irish fiddle/violin technique, Mattie enjoys teaching students of all ages and abilities. She is an avid composer of both Irish and classical chamber music, holds a BA in Music Composition and is a very talented seamstress and costume artist.

Aja McCullough

Communications Coordinator

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Since graduating from Macalester College in 2009, Aja has provided communications and fundraising leadership for several Twin Cities nonprofits, including Simpson Housing Services, Emma Norton Services, African Development Center, and Twin Cities Media Alliance.

Aja has been a part of the CIM community for many years as a volunteer and student of whistle, song, fiddle and guitar. On staff at CIM, Aja manages external communications (including the newsletter, print materials, website, and social media), does in-house graphic design and photography, and supports fundraising efforts.

In addition to her work at the Center for Irish Music, she is a performing musician and fantasy writer.

 

Lily Gaetgaeow

Registration Coordinator & Administrative Associate

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Born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand, Lily Gaetgaeow has always had an interest in traditional and folk music. She completed her undergraduate honors thesis on klezmer clarinet music at Knox College in 2015 and continued to pursue her interests in music and history at the University of Iowa, where she earned an MA in Musicology in 2018. In addition to her studies, Lily worked as the Events and Room Scheduling Assistant for the University of Iowa School of Music. Drawn to Minnesota’s unique and robust support for the arts, Lily moved to Minneapolis in the fall of 2019. She is excited to be a part of the Center for Irish Music community.

Mattie Snyder

Event & Outreach Coordinator

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Graduating from Luther College in 2024 with majors in Visual Communication and Cello Performance, Mattie brings a combination of communications and musical experience to her work at CIM. While in college, she held several communications-related internships including her role as CIM’s summer intern in 2023.

Mattie's dedication to CIM’s mission is also connected to her exploration of traditional music on cello. While her musical training has been mainly classically-focused, she began exploring and playing music from Celtic folk traditions in late high school. In college, Mattie continued her work of navigating how cello can play a role in folk traditions and did her Undergraduate Capstone project on increasing cellists’ accessibility to Celtic traditions. Her senior recital featured a wide range of styles including works by author of The Irish Cello Book, Liz Davis Maxfield. 

At CIM, Mattie enjoys getting to know musicians and Irish music lovers and working with them to further CIM’s mission.

Board of Directors

Dave McKenna

President

Dave McKenna (President) has been involved with CIM since 2007 when along with his daughter, Fiona, he started tin whistle lessons with Kate Wade as a fun father-daughter activity. Dave’s son, Ian, also plays the button accordion and both Fiona and Ian are graduates of the Advanced Youth Ensemble program. Dave plays flute and uilleann pipes and is a member of the adult ensemble, An Luan.

Nicole Boor

Treasurer

Nicole Boor has been involved with the Center for Irish Music since 2015 as a uilleann pipes student. She is also a member of the An Luan ensemble and has served on the CIM board as treasurer since 2019. She discovered the uilleann pipes from the soundtrack from the movie “Waking Ned Devine” and loves the challenge of playing this beautiful Irish instrument. Nicole is active in the Great Northern Pipers Club and encourages adult learners to “go for it and try something new”. Nicole was the CIM Fitz Adult Scholarship Winner in 2024.

As a Wealth Manager for Accredited Investors Wealth Management in Edina, Nicole brings financial expertise to the CIM board. A graduate of the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities with a major in Mortuary Science, Nicole initially worked in the funeral home industry, first as a funeral director and later with helping families with insurance products and estate planning. That led to full-time financial management with expertise in legacy planning and end of life care.

Jan Casey

Secretary

Jan Casey brings a rich connection to Irish music and culture to her role on the Center for Irish Music board. She has also served on the board of Irish Arts Minnesota (formerly Irish Music and Dance Association) since 2005. In her tenure there, she has contributed to event planning at the Landmark Center and coordinating programs for grants and awards. Her leadership in promoting Irish culture has been essential to both organizations, enriching the local Irish community and making traditional arts accessible to a wider audience. Professionally, Jan spent her career in technical marketing within the telecommunications industry.

Being a fan of Irish music for some time, Jan has recently taken up the tin whistle under the guidance of Kate Wade. Jan’s granddaughter is also a student at CIM, playing in the Redwing ensemble. Jan’s husband, Mike, plays guitar and sings Irish songs. Together, they have traveled to Ireland to participate in music festivals. Although she initially connected to Irish culture through marriage, Jan later discovered that her own great-great-grandmother was Irish, deepening her bond to the community.

Karen Smith

Secretary

Karen Smith was drawn to the Center for Irish Music to learn to play the tenor banjo. As a child she studied classical violin and piano, but as a teenager she took up banjo lessons with Lizzie Fullilove, a renowned teacher in Waterloo, Iowa. Lizzie eventually sold her Gibson banjo to Karen’s family. While Karen’s earlier banjo experience was with Dixieland music, she’s enjoying learning Irish music with Brian Miller, and is playing with CIM’s Open Sky ensemble.

Karen brings a wealth of skills to CIM from her professional experience in corporate public relations (Verizon), non-profit communications (The Family Partnership) and in promoting women’s intercollegiate sports at several institutions. Karen is an avid sports fan of the Hawkeyes, WNBA Lynx and women’s college basketball.

Recently retired, Karen is now working as a PR/communications consultant. As a Board member Karen looks forward to helping  tell the CIM story!

Becky Bollinger

At Large

Becky Bollinger took her first song lesson at the 2009 MIM and has been a student and volunteer since March of 2010. She takes harp lessons with Chad McAnally, guitar lessons from Brian Miller, and is in the Open Sky Ensemble. Becky currently dances with Knocknagow Irish dancers and teaches the adult beginner/intermediate class at O’Shea Irish Dance. She also just started helping IAM with some scheduling for their St. Patrick’s Day and Day of Dance celebrations. 

Becky works as the Director of Compliance for Hammer & NER, a non-profit organization that provides residential and case management services to adults with developmental disabilities. Becky brings policy knowledge from her professional work, and is well-versed in planning and executing events at the CIM where she has been heavily involved in planning Eigse and coordinating volunteers for MIM over the last decade.

Becky loves that CIM is a space for intergenerational learning, and is passionate about the school’s place in the local Irish community. Becky finds that serving on the Board is another way to share her enthusiasm for the Center for Irish Music and to give back.

Samantha Jekot Graham

At Large

Samantha Jekot-Graham was drawn to CIM through harp lessons with Hannah Flowers. In volunteering for the Board at CIM she remarked, “I want to be a part of an organization that supports culture, history and learning and [CIM] felt like a good fit.” 

Samantha brings a diverse set of skills and professional experience to the CIM board from her role as Library Services Manager for Hennepin County where she  oversees seven libraries. Samantha has experience in strategic planning, supervision, continuous improvement and in supporting diversity and inclusion goals. She also loves to be a part of planning and organizing events.

Jeff Larsen

At Large

Jeff Larsen was connected to CIM through his son Owen, an accomplished fiddler who graduated from the Advanced Youth Ensemble in 2024 after 13 years of Irish fiddle studies. After years of attending Midwest USA and All-Ireland Fleadhs with Owen, Jeff has become a big fan of ceili band music!

Jeff has been with Quicksilver Express Courier for 34 years and currently serves as the company’s Chief Technology Officer. He brings his information technology expertise and networking, wifi, and software skills to the CIM board. Jeff says that his board service allows him to stay involved with CIM and give back to the community that played an impactful role in his son’s musical and social life.

Mike Lynch

Past President

Mike Lynch originally learned about the Center for Irish Music through the Minnesota Irish Fair and playing bodhrán at the the sessions at Kieran’s Irish Pub. Mike has served on CIM’s board of directors since 2007. He served as president for several years in a key transitional time for CIM when the organization moved into the Celtic Junction, helping the organization to set up a sustainable, mission-driven business model. He managed the bar for all events in the building from 2009-2019, collaborating with IMDA, Irish Fair, CIM and other nonprofits to share profits from the bar. Before serving on the CIM board, he served on the board of directors for the Irish Fair of Minnesota and the Boy Scouts of America. 

Mike’s company Controls and Meters, Inc. was founded in 1976 as a specialized industrial supplier of flow metering devices.

Mike O'Connor

Past President, Past Treasurer

Mike O’Connor started at CIM in March of 2010 as a student, but quickly got involved as a volunteer for many different events. Mike was initially interested in learning to play in DADGAD tuning, but this interest grew as the tunes and songs quickly became very exciting to listen to and play. 

Mike says, “Today, it’s the energy of the music that is so compelling and inviting to me, especially when I play in an ensemble, An Luan and share that love of this music with others.” Mike sees CIM as a vibrant, welcoming school that is passing on its passion for traditional Irish Music to all people, whether they are young or older.

A retired actuary, Mike is the past owner of Blueberry Fields of Minnesota, an organic blueberry farm in Stillwater. He brings extensive experience in finance to CIM’s board and many volunteer hours on the Éigse committee, and board-led committees and task forces.

Greg Padden

Past Treasurer

Greg Padden has served on the CIM board of directors since 2015, bringing his passion for the music, viewpoint of a parent, and extensive professional experience in management and finance. He found the CIM through enrolling his two children in the Minnesota Irish Music Weekend, an event which he continues to volunteer for every year.

Greg plays guitar and takes tin whistle lessons with Iain Dove McAfee. Greg’s two kids grew up at CIM, his son Connor taking fiddle and mandolin lessons and his daughter Ella taking harp lessons. Ella Padden lived for two years in Ireland while obtaining a masters degree in Archives and Records Management at University College Dublin.

Greg currently works as Director, Power Supply and Markets at Great River Energy. His

20+ years of project management, financial analysis, and collaborative teamwork experience are valuable assets to the CIM board.

Jo An Vano

At Large

Jo Ann Vano is a media consultant as well as a dedicated volunteer with extensive experience in the arts and cultural nonprofit sector. In addition to serving on the CIM Board, Jo Ann serves on the Celtic Junction Arts Center board of directors and is a founding member and board chair of the African Development Center for Minnesota. Jo Ann also takes accordion lessons at CIM the accordion and is a regular at local Irish sessions. Jo Ann will serve as the volunteer chair MIM 2025.

Jo Ann Vano holds a degree in Library Sciences from Seneca College (Ontario) and runs a media consulting business with her husband, Mario.

Past Board Members

Susanna Gibbons* 2006-2008

Kathleen Hansen* 2006-2008

Maeve O'Mara* 2006-2009

Natalie O'Shea* 2006-2012

Emily Flagstad 2008-2009

Fintan Moore 2008-2009

Mimi Hasselbalch 2008-2010

Scot Rans 2008-2011

Carillon McBurnie 2009-2011

Jeanne Morales 2009-2014

Ruth McGlynn 2009-2015

Lisa Forrette 2010-2012

Patrick Cole 2010-2023

Teisha Magee 2011-2020

Chris Eliasen 2014-2015

Laura Billings Coleman 2015-2018

Patrick Krekelberg 2015-2018

Dave Rhees 2017-2024

*denotes founding board members