As traditional Irish music and dance continue to enjoy phenomenal success both here and in Ireland, Aine Minogue is an artist who has long explored its themes and who captures its very essence. Her voice reflects the lyricism and richness to be found in Irish music, mythology and poetry with a voice undeniably her own and a diverse group of instruments that add to the traditional flavor of her work.

In a career that now spans five decades, pianist Ran Blake has created a unique niche in improvised music as an artist and educator. With a characteristic mix of spontaneous solos, modern classical tonalities, the great American blues and gospel traditions, and themes from classic Film Noir, Blake's singular sound has earned a dedicated following all over the world. His dual musical legacy includes more than 30 albums on some of the world's finest jazz labels, as well nearly 30 years as a groundbreaking educator at Boston's New England Conservatory.

Charles Ansbacher holds titled positions with orchestras in Boston, Moscow, Sarajevo, and Bishkek. His primary relationship is with The Boston Landmarks Orchestra, which he created in 2000 as a gift to his home community. Among recently highly acclaimed performances, he conducted *Beethoven's Ninth Symphony* in Harvard University's Sanders Theatre with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, the same work he performed in Belgrade with American and Russian soloists. As the first American to appear on stage after the Kosovo-related NATO bombing of Serbia.Beyond music, Charles Ansbacher applied art to public policy making when, as a White House Fellow, he was co-chair of the U.S. Department of Transporation's Task Force on the Use of Design, Art, and Architecture in Transportation.

Mark Erelli is an American singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and touring folk musician from Reading, Massachusetts who earned a master's degree in evolutionary biology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst before pursuing a career in music.

Scott Alarik has been the principal folk music writer for *The Boston Globe* since 1986. He is also a frequent contributor to *Sing Out!* the Folk Music Magazine, and was folk critic for the public radio program "Here and Now" for seven years. From 1991-97, he was editor and chief writer for the *New England Folk Almanac*. With the release of a new CD *All That Is True* and the launching of a long-awaited website, scottalarik.com, Alarik hopes to more closely connect his long careers as music journalist and folk singer. Before moving to Boston in the early 80s, Alarik spent nearly 15 years as a folk singer and songwriter. He released three albums and appeared regularly on the public radio hit "A Prairie Home Companion." During that time, writing overshadowed performing for Alarik. In 1991, the *Globe* briefly minimized the attention it paid to folk music, and Alarik, in partnership with the Folk Arts Network, founded the *New England Folk Almanac* to fill the breach in print media coverage. From 1991-97, it grew from a regional music calendar into a nationally respected magazine. At the peak of its popularity in 1997, an internal struggle within the sponsoring organization forced Alarik to leave the Almanac. It went out of business a year later.