Bio

Born in Chicago, Aislinn Gagliardi grew up listening to and falling in love with all kinds of music. She began classical piano lessons at age six, and started learning the harp at thirteen, taking lessons from classical harpist Alison Attar and playing in an Irish music youth ensemble. Since then she has studied with various Irish and Celtic harpers including Michael Rooney, Janet Harbison, and Gráinne Hambly. Aislinn pursued her musical passion at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (UWM), earning a B.A. in Inter-Arts (a combination of music and dance studies), with a double major in Ethnic Studies, and a certificate in Celtic Studies. She honed her skills on the pedal

harp at UWM under the tutelage of classical harpist Ann Lobotzke, and performed in the UWM Symphony Band and Collegium Musicum, an early music ensemble specializing in Renaissance and Baroque music. Spending a semester abroad studying Irish culture, music, and dance at the University of Limerick, Ireland, she worked closely with Irish harper Fionnuala Rooney, and played in an ensemble that appeared on RTE's Céilí House radio show.

Not only has Aislinn appeared on radio overseas, but back in the Mid-west she and her sister Meghan Anzelc (flute) were recently featured guests on the University of Chicago‚s radio shows "A Feast of Irish Folk" and "Reilly's Pint of Ale" (WHPK). Aislinn has also become an annual performer at the Milwaukee Irish Fest and Chicago's Celtic Fest, and has made appearances at the Fox Valley Irish Fest. Not only has Aislinn appeared as a special guest with the Milwaukee-based Irish-music bands Anam Rí and Cé, but she has also performed as the opening act for the Karen Casey Band. In addition, Aislinn plays frequently for private parties, weddings, receptions and at restaurants, and is a regular at a few of the traditional Irish music sessions in the Chicago-land area, including Molly Malone's in Forest Park.

Aislinn has been teaching harp in both Chicago and Milwaukee since 2002. She began teaching at Chicago's World Folk Music and the Milwaukee Irish Fest School of Music (IFSM), and has given workshops on the harp at the IFSM, the Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School, and most recently at the Great Lakes Harpers (GLH) 2006 Regional Conference. Currently she can be found teaching out of her studio on the Northwest side of Chicago, and is working on material for a future album. Inspired by her previous experiences overseas, she hopes that one of her next trips to Ireland will be as a touring performer and teacher.

Discography:
Sussie B. Nielson after rain (2004) -
Excerpt Rince Philip A' Cheoil / As I Lay Dreaming (Trad./T.Goddard, song & reel)