Cara Wildman

Cara Wildman is an experienced and well-respected percussionist, pianist, and bodhrán player from Dorchester, TX. Cara’s talents have led her to perform in a variety of musical ensembles and genres around the world including in Puerto Rico, Argentina, Ireland, Canada, and across the United States. She has performed with Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps, Celtic Thunder, and The Irish Memory Orchestra. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Education from Texas Christian University, and a second Master’s in Irish Traditional Music Performance from the University of Limerick in Ireland. Cara has studied with bodhrán greats Jim Higgins, Eamon Murray, Martin O’Neil, Cormac Byrne, Colm Murphy, Colm Phelan, and Junior Davey, among others.

Cara’s playing has garnered international accolades including winning the 2016, 2018, and 2019 Senior Bodhrán Champion for the Limerick and Midwest Fleadhanna, and placing 3rd at the 2019 All-Ireland fleadh in Drogheda, Ireland. Donal Lunny described her playing as having “great taste…as an artist she can be immersed in her playing while retaining perspective on its contribution to the music. The development of the bodhrán is an exciting work in progress. I think Cara is at the front edge of this development…”