2606B Raeford Road
Fayetteville, NC 28304
Tel: 910-677-0055
ON STAGE
JENNIFER SHELTON LICKO
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Jennifer Shelton Licko Slideshow
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©LauraH
Jennifer Shelton Licko
Eastern North Carolina
On Stage at Paddy's Wednesday, June 13, 2007 & Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Jennifer Shelton Licko Bio
Born in North Carolina, USA and having performed mostly in Ireland and studied Gaelic in Scotland, Jennifer passionately performs with an uncommon understanding of Celtic culture and language -- traditional and contemporary Celtophiles will immediately recognize this in her singing and playing style. She is a multi-instrumentalist who skillfully plays the piano and guitar, accordian and bodhrán (Irish drum). Her best instrument is her magnificent voice whose beauty has been known to bring many a listener to tears. She is a trained vocalist who has that certain quality that makes for easy and pleasant listening whether she is singing an unaccompanied lament, a rousing pub song, or puirt-a-beul (Gaelic mouth music).
After graduating from East Carolina University with a degree in music education, Jennifer received International Rotary and St. Andrews Society of North Carolina Scholarships to go to the University of Edinburgh and study Gaelic. She spent three summers in Scotland and attended many workshops including Ceòlas (a music and dance summer school) on the Isle of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. There she studied Gaelic singing with Mairi MacInnes, Roddy Campbell, and Ishbel MacAskill. She also attended many céilidhs and music sessions.
Jennifer then spent several years living and performing professionally in Ireland. Living in the small town of Tullaghan in county Leitrim she became a part of the community and truly lived an Irish village lifestyle. While in Ireland, Jennifer studied accordion from Seamus Sweeney who has taught many well known musicians in Irish bands such as Altan. Her time in Ireland furthered her understanding of the Celtic culture as she learned the background and stories behind many of the songs she sings from the source. She even picked up a wee bit of Irish humor that’s evident in her performances.
Not only is she an accomplished singer and musician, Jennifer is a Premier Highland Dancer who studied at the prestigious Jo Moore Kalat School of Scottish Dancing in Cary, NC. Jennifer’s degree in Music education from ECU and her experience as a performer helped her create interactive and engaging educational programs to enrich cultural diversity through music and dance. Now residing in Brazil, she continues to perform and study music of other cultures.
Jennifer has made several recordings including: Cave of Gold, Language of the Gaels, Celtic Moonsongs for Sydney and her most recent; A Thousand Curses Upon Love.