Rick Holt

Texas-based percussionist Rick Holt immersed himself in the Irish music culture after he discovered the engaging sound of the bodhran almost in the late 90’s. Rick has been playing drums since he was 6 years old and earned his degree in Music Education from Troy University. He has performed a variety of musical styles, from classical to rock and musical theater. Recently, as a performer, composer and arranger, Rick has been exploring the boundaries of Celtic and Irish music and works to apply these insights to the bodhran. He has traveled to Ireland to study bodhran with some of the top players in the world and afterward enjoyed participating in local sessions around the country.

Rick has been involved in the Irish music community in North Texas since 2003, performing with area artists in bands and sessions and recording with local Irish musicians. He has served as a board member of the Traditional Irish Music Education Society and for over a decade was on the staff of the O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat. He has been teaching bodhran privately, in workshops and with the O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat, the North Texas School of Irish Music and the O’Flaherty Irish Music Youth Camp. He is a regular member of the TIMES Band & Session Players as well as a local DFW based band since 2008.