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The Band
Ciaran Carlin - Flute, Whistles
Ciaran comes from a musical family in Derry City, and with his traditional roots, has been playing the tin whistle for over fifteen years. He won the All Ireland championships on flute, both in Ballina, Co. Mayo, and Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, and has performed at festivals all over the world in countries such as Germany, Denmark and America.
Denise Roper - Keyboard
Denise, from Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, has been playing piano from the age of five. Classically trained, she holds a B.Mus and a H. Dip in Education from N.U.I. Maynooth. She has performed at many diverse venues including The Vatican, The Point Depot, The National Concert Hall, Stormount Castle, and Aras an Uachtaran. She has been musical director for many shows and musicals, and recently toured with Kintra and Delores Keane.
Georgina Kee - Dancer, pipes
Georgina, from the village of Bready in County Tyrone, dances, plays pipes and the choreographer for Sontas. She has been performing from the age of twelve, and began her training with the Sollus School of Highland Dance. Georgina furthered her dance training at Belfast Metropolitan College studying jazz, contemporary, hip hop and ballet achieving a National Diploma in Dance. She has performed at major events throughout Europe and in America including four consecutive years at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Georgina recently completed a dance degree from the University of Ulster receiving first class honours.
Darren 'Barney' Milligan - Bagpipes, Whistles
Darren "Barney" Milligan hails from Artigravan, Co.Tyrone. Darren has been playing the bagpipes since the age of 11. Darren has recently graduated from Newcastle University with a degree in Folk and Traditional Music (BMus Hons). Darren has a keen interest in both Scottish and Irish Traditional Music, and the collaberation of these styles of music is evident in his compostitons. He has performed in Red Square - Moscow, New Delhi, as well as the Vanderbilt Hall in New York.
George Henderson - Percussion
George is a native of Donegal Town and has been playing drums since the age of twelve. He has played with various bands all over Ireland playing pop/rock and original music. One of the bands, Skitzo, regularily played the Dublin college scene, as well as other venues around Ireland, and were one of 10 finalists in the 2FM National Song Contest, which was held in Vicar Street, and broadcast live on 2FM.
Karol Harvey - Vocals, Ac. Guitar
Karol comes from Letterkenny in Co. Donegal. His musical experience prior to Sontas lay largely in theatre - both musicals and acting - where he played greatly differing roles. To date he has enjoyed playing to crowds and audiences across Ireland and the UK as well as Germany (Eurotreff) and the US (Milwaukee Irish Fest) in addition to contributing vocals to a number of collaborative recordings in differing genres, including musical theatre, soul and traditional.
Jordan Hughes - Dancer, Pipes
Jordan is a dancer and piper for Sontas. Jordan comes from Killyclooney in Co. Tyrone, and she started highland dancing at the age of 9 with the Sollus School Of Highland Dance in Bready, Co. Tyrone. She has performed in places such as Germany, New York, Milwaukee Irish fest and The Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Other events Jordan has taken place in Northern Ireland include the Clipper Festival, Winsor Park, Stormont. Along side her dancing career Jordan is currently studying at university in Liverpool
Micheal Gillespie - Bass Guitar, Double Bass
Michael Gillespie, comes from Donegal and began playing live at the age of fourteen. He brings experience from a wide range of musical styles, having played in a variety of jazz, rock, funk, trad and fusion groups, along with working as a session player. He has a great love of all kinds of music, with passions for songwriting and arranging also. Michael is also the musical director of Sontas.
Paul Starrett - Acoustic & Electric Guitar.
Derry-born Paul began taking guitar lessons around the age of 14 in the local venue of the Nerve Centre. He began with group lessons, then moving on to private lessons to develop his playing potential. By the age of 17 he began teaching the guitar in that same venue. In July 2011 he graduated from Magee University in Derry with a Bachelors Degree in Music with Honors. Paul teaches in his home in Derry and also plays with a small Jazz/Funk group called The Haciendas.
Zara Montgomery- Vocals
The female vocalist in Sontas, Zara Montgomery is from Donegal Town, Co. Donegal, and has been singing at the age of eight. She has performanced with Phil Coulter, Fr Liam Lawton and Kintra. Zara studied at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth where she received a B.A. Double Honours Degree in Music and English, and is now currently finishing her Masters Degree in Music at the University of Ulster, Magee.
