WHO'S WHO IN THE COMPANY? MARK HOWARD (Founding Artistic Director/Choreographer), an Emmy Award-winning choregrapher has, for three and a half decades, been transcending craft to produce art that simultaneously represents the past while looking to the future. Born in Yorkshire, England and raised in Chicago’s Rogers Park, Howard began dancing at eight, teaching at 17, launched the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance at age 20, and coached the first American team to win gold at the World Championships of Irish Dance by 25. Howard would go on to redefine what was possible for American teams, becoming the first to win gold in all team categories. In 1990, the non-profit Trinity Irish Dance Company was formed to celebrate and and further Howard's trailblazing movement genre ‘progressive Irish dance’. In the late '80s and early '90s, Howard was a regular guest on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson and has worked extensively in TV and film with a wealth of celebrities from Tom Hanks and Conan O’Brien to Jimmy Fallon and Oprah Winfrey to name a few. His work has brought numerous grants and awards, from choreographer’s fellowships with the National Endowment for the Arts to his recent induction into the 2023 Irish American Hall of Fame. This year, he was named one of the Top 100 Irish Americans by Irish America Magazine for the fourth time. CHELSEA HOY (Associate Artistic Director/Choreographer/Dancer)'s diverse skill set and affinity for connecting with her community made her uniquely equipped for a career in the performing arts. Over the past decade, she has become a major player in the performing arts world. Hoy’s work as a choreographer and dancer has been celebrated by audiences and critics worldwide - from New York City’s Joyce Theater to Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre to Tokyo’s Orchard Hall. A Denver native, Hoy joined the Trinity Irish Dance Company (TIDC) in Chicago in 2014 and was named TIDC’s Associate Artistic Director in 2018. As a formidable performer, choreographer, Associate Artistic Director, and organizational leader, Hoy has been at the heart of shaping and evolving this important cultural organization throughout the past decade. She recently celebrated the world premiere of The Sash, her third co-choreographed work with Howard, following An Sorcas (2018) and Taking the Mick (2024). This year, she was named to the “40 under 40” by the Irish Echo. A powerful activist and artist, Hoy is proud to join Howard as they spearhead the future of this cultural art form.
The Band
BRENOSHEA (Guitar, Vocals, and Composer) is a singer-songwriter originally from Killarney, Ireland who moved to the United States in the late 90's. Since then, he has become a veteran of New York City’s songwriter scene and has released five albums that have garnered praise from critics and press around the world. TIDC’s lead singer for over 25 years, with or without a guitar in hand, O’Shea excels at drawing people in. His latest album Midatlantic Ghost, a beautiful acoustic record with songs of leaving and of love, is available on iTunes. Visit www.brendanosheamusic.com for more info. CHRIS DEVLIN (Guitar and Vocals) is a Chicago-based musician who began playing guitar at eight years old. He has since grown as a multi-instrumentalist and is a professional analog recording engineer and producer. Devlin has been a collaborator with varied musical acts across the country and was a key member of the band Rookie, which saw nationwide success as a touring rock band. Devlin took his first trip to Japan with the company in 2016, and is incredibly honored to share his talents with TIDC on international stages.