Devin Shepherd (fiddle)

Devin Shephard is a fiddler from Chicago. He began Suzuki violin lessons at age four, but fell in love with traditional Irish music at ten. His mother nurtured his interest, immersing him in the deep-rooted Irish music scene of his hometown, where he studied with Kathleen Keane and Liz Carroll and regularly attended sessions. As a young fiddler, Devin won first prize in the Midwest Fleadh Cheoil for nine consecutive years. More recently, his stylistic development has focused on recordings of legendary Irish fiddlers of the past, such as Bobby Casey, Michael Coleman, and John Doherty, as well as living legends James Kelly and Paddy Cronin. Since 2000, he has made his living teaching and performing Irish music throughout the U.S. and abroad. He is a member of Chicago-based ensemble Chicago Reel and has a degree in music composition from the Chicago College of Performing Arts.