About Us
In the Irish tradition, a Ceili is more than just a performance—it’s a gathering. The Hudson River Ceili Band embodies this spirit, performing a rich tapestry of Celtic instrumentals, songs, and Irish dance. The members first crossed paths some twenty years ago at the Parting Glass pan-Celtic jams, eventually formalizing their group in 2020 to share their love of Irish arts with the Hudson Valley. Today, they bring that same communal approach to concert stages, festivals, and contra dances throughout the region.
Members are Andre Ernst (vocals, guitar, bouzouki, banjo, and mandolin), Leanne (Irish dance, bodhran and tin whistles), David Jones (fiddle, concertina), and Diane Jones (fiddle, mandolin).
Photos by Ava Schneider
Andre Ernst is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, bouzouki, and mandolin player from the Capital District. Leanne has been studying, competing and performing as an Irish dancer for over 12 years, competing locally and in a regional championships with the Boland School of Irish dance. David and Diane Jones have been playing traditional music in a variety of local groups for over a decade, including Grafton Street Trio. David is a bagpiper with the Galloway Gaelic Pipes and Drums. The group comes together to bring their appreciation of traditional Irish musical arts to audiences in the region.