Laura Byrne is highly regarded on both sides of the Atlantic for her mastery of the Irish traditional flute and whistle. Laura began studying flute at age 9 in her native Vermont, and continued her studies at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore where she earned Bachelor’s degrees in both flute performance and music education in 1995. Though classically trained, she chose to devote her musical career to Irish traditional music and is now considered one of only a handful to successfully cross over to traditional music from another genre.

Laura has committed herself to the playing of the older generation of flute players through numerous trips to Ireland and from close study of the emigrees to the United States. Her mentors and influences are many and include East Galway flute player Mike Rafferty, Sligo/Roscommon style flute player, Catherine McEvoy, Matt Molloy of Chieftain’s fame, and East Galway style button accordionist Billy McComiskey. Through her direct study of this unbroken musical lineage and because of her devotion to the teaching and promulgation of all aspects of Irish musical culture, Laura is a well-known mainstay in Maryland’s vibrant Irish music scene.

Laura was a 2008 Maryland Traditions grant recipient for ballad singing, and in 2012 received the Maryland Traditions Master award in Irish flute along with apprentice Patrick Armstrong. Laura is a two time recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council grant for solo performance, receiving the very competitive highest award available in 2011.

Laura is member of the Baltimore crossover project “Across the Harbor” and has had the opportunity to perform with many of the great masters of Irish music. She performs regularly with world-renowned fellow Baltimoreans Billy McComiskey, fiddler Joanna Clare, pianist and fiddler Donna Long, with singer/guitarist Eileen Estes and David McKindley-Ward.

A sought-after flute and tin whistle instructor, Laura maintains an active private teaching studio and has taught at numerous festivals and workshops, including the Catskills Irish Arts Week in East Durham, NY, the CCE Mad for Trad Week in Bethesda, MD, and at Goucher College in Towson, MD, Laura founded and directs the Baltimore Irish Arts Center. Also a seasoned Realtor with Long and Foster, Laura currently lives in Towson, MD with her husband, two Labrador retrievers and a cat.