Seán & Michael Gavin

Seán Gavin is a distinguished Irish musician, celebrated for his mastery in playing the uilleann pipes, Irish flute, and tin whistle. His dedication to traditional Irish music has not only earned him the prestigious Seán Ó Riada gold medal in 2016, making him the first musician born outside Ireland to win this award, but also led him to found the Irish Music Institute. Gavin is recognized for his role as a musical director on various projects, including the PBS program “I Am Ireland” and “Atlantic Steps.” He’s highly sought after as an instructor, sharing his expertise through workshops and lectures worldwide, including at the University of Chicago and St. Andrew’s University in Scotland. Growing up in Detroit, Seán was heavily influenced by his father, Mick Gavin, a fiddler from Co. Clare, and his brother Michael, a multi-instrumentalist, fostering a family deeply rooted in Irish musical traditions​​.

The Gavin family, including Seán and Michael Gavin, is celebrated in the Detroit area as “Detroit’s first family of traditional Irish music,” playing a mix of fiddle, guitar, tenor banjo, flute, and uilleann bagpipes. This family ensemble epitomizes pure-drop traditional Irish music, a testament to their deep musical roots and significant contributions to the genre​.