Dugan's Hooligans Celtic Eclectic Ensemble is a showcase for two talented youngsters; Fiddler Connor Dugan, and Harpist/Tin Whistle/Dancer/Vocalist Sharlys Dugan.
Connor, the groups fiddler, drove most of the music with his precise and energetic fiddling. The New York Times described Connor as a “virtuosic fiddler”. He'd start off with a traditional Irish tune, then veer off to some funky bluegrass, a rag, Cajun riff, an oldtime shuffle, a Nova Scotia reel or a wild Klezmer dance. Educated in classical, as well as Celtic and American folk music since the age of 6, Connor can pull a concerto out of his back pocket as fast as a jig. He was a violinist in the Baroque Orchestra of North Jersey, the NJ Concert Opera, and frequently accompanied the Harmonium Choral Society in their critically acclaimed concerts. A former member of the NJ Youth Symphony family of ensembles, he’s been a guest artist of the New Philharmonic of NJ, and played on occasion with the Livingston Symphony and the Stirling String Ensemble. Connor earned the first place championship in the Mid Atlantic Irish Fiddle competitions twice in a row, and has numerous first place championships under his belt, among them Celtic, Oldtime, and Bluegrass championships from the Fireback Fiddle Contest, the Sussex Fair Fiddle Contest, and the Grand Championship of the Lyons Fiddle Contest,. In October of 2009 he was cast as a character (and fiddler!) in the critically acclaimed Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's production of "The Grapes of Wrath". He spent his freshman year majoring in Violin Performance at the John J Cali School of Music at Montclair State University, but transferred to famed Berklee School of Music in Boston where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Contemporary Composition and Production. For musical needs you can contact him at www.connordugan.com. For his professional life, he runs his own film and video production company; Aspekt Visual www.aspektvisual.com and Aspekt Aerial www.aspektaerial.com , creating visual content, often including music and editing for individuals, medical practices, real estate companies, schools, camps, athletic programs, and other assorted businesses. In his spare time he is an EMT for the town of Verona.
Sharlys started playing the harp at age 4, and at 6 won her first North Atlantic Irish Harp championship, which she held for 3 consecutive years. In addition to studying classical and Celtic harp, she is a champion tin whistle player, a fine vocalist, flautist, and an engaging Irish dancer. As a high school student in Madison NJ, Sharlys was involved with musical theater, and the Madison HS Jazz Choir. Outside of school she was a member of the Harmonium Choral Society, as well as Harmonium Chamber Singers. She frequently accompanied Harmonium with her whistle or harp, and occasionally joined the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey as a guest harpist or soloist. After graduating with honors from Hofstra University, Sharlys completed 3 public relations internships, one for the Fresh Air Fund, another for Andrea Associates representing non-profits, and for the global PR firm Ketchum. She accepted a full time position at the Park Ave offices of a business to business PR firm; Feintuch Associates, where she is very happy and doing well. She lives on her own in Jersey City, and has been getting back to playing her harp after the whole college/get a job/get out on your own hiatus.
Mom/Nancy plays the harp and keyboards, and Dad/George plays bodhran. They called it "parenting with a backbeat. Their role, aside from musical guidance and being roadies, involved arranging music, percussive enhancements and accompaniments.
Leap-frogging musical genres, eras, countries, and traditions comes naturally to these young musicians. Amidst the fun, you come to realize that though they make it look easy, the kids are hard workers, highly trained, and musically disciplined. A musical experience with the Hooligans was always fun, eclectic, and pretty amazing.
Their last concert in 2010 was the end of the groups collaboration for the present, but are often available individually for assorted gigs.
