Instructors

Claire Shirey
Director & Founder
Fiddle, Concertina, & Whistle

Claire Shirey is a multi-instrumentalist and champion Irish dancer based in Nashville, TN. She became a student teacher at the Atlanta Irish Music School in 2012, instructing on concertina, tin whistle, bodhran, and fiddle, while performing with the Atlanta Celtic Company.

Since 2018, she has played the fiddle at Feiseanna across the US and Mexico and participated in various Oireachtas Competitions. Claire has toured with CelticIllusion and is a member of Micheal Londra’s band. In 2019, she founded the Nashville Irish Music School and performs with Music City Trad.

Claire is also a certified Irish step dance teacher (T.C.R.G.) under An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha, teaching at the Scott-Ellis School of Irish Dance in Nashville. She retired from competitive dancing in 2016 but continues to perform with bands like The Chieftains and Gaelic Storm. Claire holds a degree in Communications Studies and a certificate in Music Business from the University of Georgia.

Joshua Jernigan
Assistant Director
Bodhran, Guitar, Banjo, & Mandolin

Currently a member of the Irish American folk music group The Sternwheelers where Josh plays the bodhran drum, sing, and use various percussion effects. He is also a drummer for Nashville-based rock band My Friend The Ghost and am working on a solo contemporary folk project called Jernigan Station with upcoming releases. Additionally, he teach drum lessons privately and for the Nashville Irish Music School, and participate in recording sessions.

Josh has studied drums and percussion for most of his life, achieving All State level in grade school. Leading the drum line in my high school marching band and played drum set in the jazz band. After moving back to Tennessee, he played drums in various bands while studying Music Business at MTSU and continue to engage with various artists and projects. Check out his Spotify playlist featuring tracks from artists I’ve recorded or played live for.