Georgia Girl takes the Gold!

ST. LOUIS, MO (May 18, 2007) – At a competition usually dominated by Irish musicians from Missouri, Illinois, Chicago, Kentucky, and Ohio, a 16 year old from Gwinnett, Georgia, blows them all away. Mary Williams, a homeschooled teen from Lawrenceville, Georgia earned three gold and two silver metals in five separate categories at the 2007 Midwest Regional Fleadh Cheoil (Traditional Irish Music Competition) in St. Louis, Missouri. 

   Mary, a self taught musician, took first place in the Uilleann Pipes (Irish Bagpipes), the Irish Tin Whistle Slow Airs, and English Singing, and second place in Irish (Gaelic) Singing and Irish Flute Slow Airs. Her placement in these categories qualifies her to compete in the world competition, Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Tullamore Ireland August 19th through the 26th, 2007.

   Mary began playing Irish music at the age of 8 with her family band, Shanveen. She has an enchanting lilting voice and an incredible ability to instantly improvise beautiful harmonies to everything she hears. She also plays piano, guitar, Bodhrán and is working on the fiddle and banjo. Shanveen's most recent and most popular songs were composed and arranged by Mary. She has also placed in the 2006 & 2007 Atlanta Irish Music Competitions.

   She is an active member of the Life Teen youth ministry program and band at St. Oliver Plunkett Catholic Church in Snellville, Georgia. She is currently studying Irish language and culture and likes internet radio, my space, puppies and figure skating. But her absolute favorite pastime is playing traditional Irish session music with local Irish musicians.