Brian Conway, a Bronx-born virtuoso fiddler, is a leading performer of the Sligo fiddle tradition in the United States. Renowned for his precise ornamentation and lyrical phrasing, he has played a central role in preserving and advancing the legacy of Irish traditional music in New York and beyond.
Conway’s formative violin instruction came from his father, Jim Conway of Plumbridge, County Tyrone, and the influential Limerick-born teacher Martin Mulvihill. His stylistic foundation, however, was solidified under the guidance of Martin Wynne, a master of the Sligo tradition. Later, mentorship from Andy McGann, himself a direct student of Michael Coleman, further refined Conway’s technique and musical sensibility.
He achieved early competitive success with consecutive All-Ireland junior titles in 1973 and 1974, followed by the senior championship in 1986. In 1979, he recorded The Apple in Winter with Tony DeMarco, a benchmark duet album documenting the New York Irish fiddle scene. His solo debut, First Through the Gate (Smithsonian Folkways, 2002), received Album of the Year honors from the Irish Echo.
Conway has participated in key projects such as My Love Is in America, recorded at the Boston College Irish Fiddle Festival, and appeared in both editions of From Shore to Shore, documentaries chronicling Irish traditional music in New York. His stature within the Irish-American musical community remains foundational.
In 2007, he released A Tribute to Andy McGann (Cló Iar-Chonnachta), featuring pianist Felix Dolan and accordionist Joe Burke. This homage was followed by Consider the Source (2008), a solo effort featuring contributions from Niamh Parsons, Billy McComiskey, Joanie Madden, and others. Pride of New York (2009) was a quartet album with Madden, McComiskey, and Brendan Dolan.
His 2016 recording with Gailfean, a group including John Whelan, Máirtín de Cógáin, and Don Penzien, continued his exploration of ensemble work. In 2025, he released Wallace Avenue, his third solo album, in partnership with Brendan Dolan. Named after the street where Conway grew up, the album features appearances from more than 20 of his past and present students. That same year, he co-authored The Brian Conway Fiddle Method, an instructional book developed with editor and transcriber Marilyn Stangl, presenting beginner and advanced settings of traditional tunes.
Conway’s contributions as an educator are as significant as his recordings. His students have earned accolades at national and international levels, and his mentorship has shaped a new generation of Irish-American fiddlers. He continues to perform across North America and Europe.
Selected Discography
- Wallace Avenue, Brian Conway, 2025
- Won’t You Come Out Tonight, Gailfean (with John Whelan, Máirtín de Cógáin, Don Penzien), 2016
- Pride of New York, with Joanie Madden, Billy McComiskey, Brendan Dolan, Compass Records, 2009
- Consider the Source, Cló Iar-Chonnachta, 2008
- A Tribute to Andy McGann, with Joe Burke and Felix Dolan, Cló Iar-Chonnachta, 2007
- First Through the Gate, Smithsonian Folkways, 2002
- The Apple in Winter, with Tony DeMarco and Caesar Pacifici, Green Linnet Records, 1981
Additional appearances include recordings with Julee Glaub, Victor Cunneen, Liz Knowles, and various compilation projects such as The Rights of Man and Irish in America: A Music Record of the Irish People in the United States, 1780–1980.
Film and Publications
- From Shore to Shore: Irish Traditional Music in New York City, directed by Patrick Mullins (1993, 2006)
- The Brian Conway Fiddle Method, edited by Marilyn Stangl, 2023
For more information, visit: www.brianconway.com
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.