The Band

Justin Bridges: Fiddle; looks to the tradition of the music for inspiration. Justin has been to Ireland many times to either compete in the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil or to learn from some of the Irish music greats at the Willie Clancy Summer School. Some of the musicians he has learned from and played with include: Joe Ryan, Peter Horan, Peader O'Lochlain, and others. Justin has also played/studied under Kevin Crehan, the son of the late concertina player Tony Crehan and the grandson of the legendary West Clare fiddler Martin "Junior" Crehan. To contact click here!

Cindy Matyi: Flute, concertina and vocals; founder and former artistic director of the Cincinnati Celtic Festival, and internationally known painter whose work has appeared in galleries throughout the US, Canada and Europe. Cindy is also the author and illustrator of the children's picture book "Little Town of Spirals" and the founder of the Little Town Fund charitable foundation. To contact click here.

Steve Matyi: Banjo, Octave mandolin and guitar, is the man behind the camera responsible for many local musicians' publicity photos. He is also a health care worker in the field of Vascular Ultrasound. To contact click here!

Venues

Dublin Irish Festival Cincinnati Celtic Music and Cultural Festival Home for the Holidays with the Cincinnati Symphony Celtic Journey concert with Cincinnati Pops Arts on Tour, Cincinnati Arts Association Master Musicians Festival, Somerset, Kentucky Potomac Festival, Leesburg, VA Celtic Lands Culture Fest, Cincinnati Museum Center Square Fair, Lima, Ohio Midfest, Middletown, Ohio Juniata Collelge, Huntington, PA Wheeling Celtic Celebration Hoosier Theater, Vevay, Indiana Tapestry Series, Thomas More College Hamilton County Public Libraries Dearborn County Libraries Kenton, Boone and Campbell Co. Libraries Queen City Club Lexington Country Club Blue Ash YMCA R.P. McMurphy's Pub The Dubliner Restaurant Jack Quinns Irish Alehouse The Brazenhead (Dublin, Ohio) Molly Malones (Louisville and Cincinnati)

Dublin Pub (Dayton) WVXU-FM Live performance Caledonian Pipers Ceilidh Fine Arts Sampler Wright State University Louisville Irish Festival Krohn Conservatory Hothouse Series Cincinnati Historical Society Museum Ohio State Fair Tall Stacks Weekend Lexington Celtic Classic Kentucky Scottish Games Day in Eden Ohio Renaissance Fair Cincinnati Art Museum Florence Nature Park Kenwood Country Club Irish Fest Thomas More College School for Creative and Performing Arts Borders Books and Music Joseph Beth Booksellers Barnes and Noble Books Numerous Weddings and Private Parties Cincinnati's Premier Celtic Band since 1990!

History

Silver Arm -- The First 20 Years

Silver Arm was formed in 1990, taking its name from the Irish legend of Nuada of the Silver Hand. For over five years the original four members Susan Cross,fiddle and vocals, Rick Evans, percussion, Stephen Matyi, guitar, octave mandolin and Cindy Matyi, flute, concertina and vocals, played local clubs, Renaissance fairs, and festivals. They produced two cassette recordings "Rough Cuts" and "Silver Arm" which are now out of print. Other musical guests often joined the group, including Terry Blankenship, who appeared with them at the Master Musicians' Festival. View the band from 1990-1995

 

 

 

 

 

By 1996 there had been a few changes and the band consisted of three of the original members plus Carla Dundes on whistles and oboe and John Armstrong on bodhrán. This collaboration resulted in the recording, "The Beech Tree" , produced by House Band member Ged Foley. Also, in 1996, Susan founded the Riley School of Irish Music and the band members were among its first faculty.

After Carla moved to Pittsburgh and John left, the founding members played with friends such as Rick Fannin, Mark Hanks, Michael Lynam, Tim Benson, Katie Else, Justin Bridges and students from the Riley School. "Never Despair", with its amazingly prophetic title, was released in 2001 right after 9-11. It featured Tim Benson on uilleann pipes and whistles with Katie Else's lovely vocals. Also contributing to this CD were Carla on oboe and Mark Hellenberg on percussion. View the band from 1995-2000

 

People move on and there were again changes in the lineup during the next decade. Tim and Katie moved away and Susan's health concerns resulted in her student Justin Bridges becoming a permanent member of the band. David Gilligan and Susan also participated until 2005 when John Sherman of Columbus became a regular member. John was well-known for his solo recordings in the finger style guitar tradition. A third CD "Links" came out in 2006 with the help of Dave Arthur who recorded and helped produce it.

The members of Silver Arm are all committed to being a part of the community in which they play. Since Susan Cross founded the Riley School of Irish Music in early 1996, it has grown to include over 70 students, many of whom have competed at Fleadhs nationally and internationally. Cindy Matyi founded the Cincinnati Celtic Music and Cultural Festival, and remained its artistic director for 15 years. Other band members are faculty at the Riley School and help in various ways. The band members feel it is important to foster learning experiences for other players, often initiating jam sessions, workshops and programs at local schools and libraries. View the band from 2000-2004

 

The music of Silver Arm has often been pan-Celtic, branching out from Ireland and Scotland to eastern Europe and France. Their CDs include tunes from Sweden and France's Massif Central along with traditional reels, jigs and songs of Ireland and Scotland. With the exception of a few contemporary touches, their interpretation is primarily a traditional one, with skills honed by many years of playing for dances and folk events.

We want to thank our many friends and fans who have supported us during our first 20 years. This makes everything worthwhile and encourages us to continue playing and teaching the music we enjoy.

We hope you will enjoy this Gallery chronicling the Band's Story from 1990-2010! View the band from 2004-2010