The
Celtic Experience
Band
Meet the members of the 12-piece Celtic Experience Band.
Made up of some of the area's most talented musicians, the Celtic Experience Band headlines the show with music from a variety of genres - from holiday favorites to traditional Celtic tunes and more!
CJ Mills
Producer, Fiddle
CJ started his musical career at the age of 6 playing the violin in the Bensalem music program and performing in the district orchestras until graduating from Bensalem High School in 1993. Since the age of 20, he has been playing professionally and has played in rock, bluegrass, country and Irish bands including Love Seed Mama Jump, Fourwood, Roundtower, Killen Thyme and Jamison Celtic Rock. Currently he plays in the band Rustic Revival and plays acoustic shows regularly with artists from the Philadelphia music scene. Mills has been a teacher at Bensalem High School for the past 25 years where he teaches Media Communications and is the Executive Producer of The Owls Television Network. CJ is also the Executive Producer of the Philadelphia Fleadh and the Celtic Christmas Experience.
Kimberly Killen
Vocals, Tin Whistle, Percussion
Kim Killen has been a part of this show since its inception. Her voice is one of the most powerful you will have the pleasure to hear, and she is no stranger to the stage, or to the Philly Music Scene. Singing since she was a little girl, Kim has been in multiple bands, playing many genres of music over the years. Starting with The Patriots, she was one of the first bands to play Irish Weekend in North Wildwood. She went on to become the lead singer for the popular band Causeway and then Killen Thyme. Kim currently plays in the rock band Vuja De and in the acoustic duo Killen Clarke.
Dan Schram
Bass Guitar, Vocals
Dan has been working as a professional musician for 29 years. He specializes in playing string instruments and battery percussion. He graduated from Temple University in 2000 with a degree in secondary education and a minor in music performance and psychology. Dan has either backed up or shared the bill with many great professional musicians including the Spin Doctors, G love and Special Sauce, Tommy Conwell, and Ben Harper to name a few and currently plays in the band Rustic Revival. Dan has been a teacher for the Bensalem School District for 24 years and is also a proud graduate of the Bensalem High School class of 1995.
Laura Elbahtimy
Piano, Keyboards, Violin, Vocals
Once an active student in Bensalem’s band, orchestra, and choral programs, Laura is now in her fourteenth year as the General Music Teacher at Rush and Struble Elementary Schools where she teaches students kindergarten through sixth grade, and conducts the 4th- 6th grade chorus. In 2011, Laura implemented a guitar curriculum servicing all 5th and 6th graders, which has now evolved into Rush’s after school rock group, “The Roadrunners.” Laura received her Bachelor of Music Education, piano concentration, from the University of Maryland, and her Masters of Education from Cabrini College.
Shaun Durnin
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Shaun Durnin has been playing all over the area as a solo acoustic act and often as a duo. Raised listening to Irish music from his father who was from Ireland, Durnin has Celtic music running through his veins. A trained vocalist, Shaun has an amazing voice as well as great licks on the guitar.
Pat Hamill
Drums
Pat has been an avid drummer since the age of 7 and is a freelance musician in and around the greater Philadelphia area. He studied with a focus on both classical percussion and jazz drums at Bucks County Community College where he received his Associates Degree. He received his BA in Music Therapy from Temple University where he focused on jazz drums and is currently a board-certified Music Therapist. Pat spends his weekdays in nursing homes playing guitar and singing songs with residents in and around the greater Philadelphia area. On the weekends he is performing all different kinds of music with other musicians with varying backgrounds, ages, and styles. Pat is the drummer for the country band Rustic Revival, and this is his first year as the drummer for Celtic Experience following the retirement of the legendary Martin Bradfield.
Mike Shackleton
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Mike Shackleton has become a household name for anyone who is going out to hear music in Philly, the Burbs or the Jersey Shore. Mike plays acoustically and with his full band all over the tri state area. When not on stage, Shackleton spends his time as a Philadelphia Fire Fighter.
Bob Hurst
Vocals, Accordian, Tin Whistle
Bob Hurst (accordian, bass clarinet, vocals) is a dynamic and versatile multi-instrumentalist and
vocalist who has fronted three groups, and has toured around the North-Eastern US, Ireland and on cruise ships in the Caribbean. Trained as a classical pianist, he has performed for over 40 years in Classical Ensembles, Concert & Marching Bands, and Orchestra and Rock Band Formats on Piano, Piano accordion, Clarinet/Bass Clarinet, Tin Whistle, Guitar (Acoustic and Electric), and Irish Drum/Bodhran. He has performed alongside many musicians in the Philadelphia area, and currently performs with the Irish rock group, Bogside Rogues, as band leader and front man.
George Leigh
Trumpet, Brass
Mr. George Leigh is a professional freelance trumpet player who performs in the area with various ensembles, artists, and bands. He was a music director with Carnival Cruise Lines and has recorded for the Wells Fargo Center (Then Wachovia Center) and other local recording artists. This is his third year in the show, and what he brings to the stage is a huge addition! Leigh taught music in Bensalem for 18 years at BHS, Snyder, Rush, Cornwells, and Valley. He then moved into a position at Bensalem High School and is currently teaching history.
Hailey Mills
Vocals
Hailey has been a Celtic Flame dancer in the shows since its inception and a member of the Celtic Experience Band for the past four years. Hailey started singing as a toddler with her first live performance at 3 years old as she sang Your Love on stage with Mike Lecompt. She went on to record on Meg Russel’s CD, Hat Parade and perform at World Café Live. Since then Hailey has been participating in talent shows, singing the National Anthem at local sporting events, sitting in with her Dad’s bands, and graduated from Bensalem High School in 2024, where she was an active member of the Bensalem choir and musicals.
John Gorbe
Lead Electric Guitar
John started his musical journey at 5 years old. As soon as he was able to hold a guitar he took lessons and joined as many musical activities as he could. Gorbe started performing in the Bensalem music program for every elementary, middle and high school ensemble before graduating in 1992. He continued his studies at Bucks County Community College before transferring to the University of the Performing Arts where he graduated in 1997. Since then, John has taught guitar, improv, harmony and ear training and has several endorsements and support of music companies. When John is not performing with the country band, Rustic Revival, or performing solo Jazz guitar, he can be found filming demos of gear or producing videos for Ibanez demonstrating new guitar models for the NAMM show each year.
LJ Hall
Vocals, Guitar
LJ Hall has quickly become one of the hottest names in country music in the Philadelphia area. He started performing solo gigs two years ago at the age of 16 at local bars in Philadelphia and the Jersey Shore and then grew his act doing some duo work here and there. At 17, he became one of the featured guest vocalists for the Celtic Christmas Experience, and now, at the ripe old age of 18 is the lead singer and acoustic guitar player for the country band Rustic Revival. LJ stays busy playing music every week year round solo, in the Rustic Trio and in the full band. LJ is currently a senior at Benjamin Rush Performing Arts High School in Philadelphia.
B.A.M.N. Productions
Sound and Lights
B.A.M.N. Productions is a Philadelphia based sound and lighting company that has been in business for over ten years. A family business, B.A.M.N stands for By Any Means Necessary, and Tym Johnson and his crew stand true to their name. The equipment, expertise, and professionalism is second to none, and it is why they are the company chosen to run both stages at The Philadelphia Fleadh, as well as all lighting and sound for all of The Celtic Christmas shows.
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