Alec Charon
Traditional Music and Jazz
Guitar / Mandolin / Irish Tenor Banjo
Philadelphia, PA
Bio
Alec Charon is a multi-instrumentalist and teacher born in Providence, Rhode Island and based in West Philadelphia.Specializing in traditional music and jazz, he has over 12 years experience performing in various musical styles and ensembles, including solo performance. He has been a regularly featured performer at the annual Philadelphia Irish Festival on guitar, mandolin and Irish tenor banjo. Alec frequently leads Irish trad sessions at Fergie's Pub, the Plough and the Stars, the historic Bristol AOH, and more throughout the region. He has performed at the Havertown Irish Festival, New Bedford's Cisco Irish Festival, and Manheim's famous Celtic Fling & Highland Games.Alec is an adjunct faculty member at Ursinus College, where he teaches applied guitar lessons. He is also on faculty at the Community Music School of Collegeville, where he has offered guitar clinics, and performs frequently on faculty recitals.With a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Composition from Temple University ('21), Alec brings a well-rounded and explorative approach to traditional music.While not performing or teaching, Alec enjoys hiking, contra dancing and traveling.
Gig Schedule
Fall 2026 Events
Sun 9/13 - High Strung Jr. - Wyoming Valley Contra Dance with Ted Crane calling
2-5pm, Pay what you wish
Cultural Centre of St. Faustina Parish, 38 West Church Street, Nanticoke, PAThu 9/17 - Bach’s Lunch - Jazz Concert
Jazz trio with Alan Dynin, piano and John Dimase, trumpet & vocals
12-1pm, Free and open to the public
Community Music School of Collegeville, 775 W Main St, Trappe, PAFri 9/18 - Kelpies - LeoFigs Happy Hour
Melissa Lisbao and I bring Irish trad back to LeoFigs in Fishtown
4-6pm, no cover
LeoFigs, 2201 Frankford Ave, Phila, PATue 9/22 - High Strung - Park Avenue Contra Dance with Alex Burka calling
The full band (Jared Bishop, Adam Bodine, Max Thoburn) takes on Park Ave Contra
7:15pm lesson, 7:30-10:00pm dance, $1-$15 sliding scale entry
Park Ave Community Center, 129 Park Ave, Swarthmore, PASat 9/26 - Fenian Rams - the Black Rose
Hitting the road with Kevin McCloskey & Andrew German to bring the late-night rebs to Boston
9pm-1am, no cover
The Black Rose, 160 State St, Boston, MATue 9/29 - Kelpies - Philadelphia International Airport
Grateful to be playing tunes with Melissa at PHL as part of a public music series celebrating musical talent and culture in the Philly area. If you're not flying that day, but interested in attending, DM me as there are some security details
2:00-3:30pm, Terminal TBD!
8000 Essington Avenue, Phila, PASat 10/3 - High Strung - Celtic Heritage Foundation
We’re opening up Bristol’s 30th Annual Celtic Heritage Day with some fiery Irish, Scottish and French-Canadian tunes. I’ll be singing a few!
11:30am-1:00pm, free public event
Waterfront Park (Mill & Radcliffe Sts), Bristol, PA 19007Sun 10/4 - Kelpies - Chester County Library
An afternoon of Irish traditional tunes, songs and discussion with the Kelpies!
2-3pm, free entry, registration required: (https://ccls.libcal.com/event/17516597)
450 Exton Square Pkwy, Exton, PAFri 10/9 - High Strung Jr. - Harrisburg Area Contra Dance Association
Fiddle champ Jared Bishop and I are headed out to the wild wild west
7:30pm lesson, 8:00-10:30pm dance, $0-$12 entry
444 Silver Spring Rd, Mechanicsburg, PASat 10/10 - Ceilidh dance lessons with Bobby Graham - Philadelphia Traditional Irish Music & Dance Festival
Learn your first steps or get back into the swing of things, produced by the Philadelphia Ceili Group
2:45pm in the Fireside Room
Tickets: (https://philadelphiaceiligroup.org/.../festival-tickets/)
Commodore John Barry Arts & Cultural Center "The Irish Center"
6815 Emlen St, Phila, PASat 10/24 - Yesterday’s Pierogies - Center City Contra Dance
Triumphant return of the Pierogies (Kate Saylor, Laura Alexander, Charles Stockdale)
7pm lesson, 7:30-10:00pm dance, $10-$20 entry
Philadelphia Ethical Society, 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Phila, PAThu 10/29 - Catie Combs and the Spootiskerry Skeletons - Mt. Airy Thursday Night Contra Dance (Halloween Pop Contra Edition!)
High Strung gets spooky and brings your favorite hits to the CBC with Kevin McCloskey, Maureen Adamson, Chloe Levine, Ben Kennedy & Tymir Sakil-Crawford
7:30 lesson, 8:00-10:30pm dance, $10-$20 entry
Commodore John Barry Arts and Cultural Center (The Irish Center) 6815 Emlen St, Phila, PAFri 10/30 - Kelpies - Fergie's Pub (Halloween Edition)
A frighteningly fun happy hour at the behest of newly annointed Commodore Fergus Carey. Wear a costume and start the holiday weekend right with me and Melissa Lisbao
6-8pm, no cover
Fergie’s Pub, 1214 Sansom St, Phila, PASun 11/1 - Kelpies - Arden Contradance
Enjoy an early afternoon dance near Wilmington with the Kelpies! Produced by TADAMS
2pm lesson, 2:30-5:00pm dance, $15-$20 entry
Arden Gild Hall, 2126 The Highway, Arden, DESat 11/7 - Duo with Peter R. Subramanian - The Five Borough Fling 2026!
Peter Subramanian and I play waltzes and assorted partner dances at Brooklyn Contra’s beloved Fall dance weekend! Excited to provide backup to Countercurrent and Bubblegum Society, and to get some dancing in ourselves
5pm and 9pm, Tickets: (https://www.brooklyncontra.org/flingtickets)
Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew, 263 W 86th St, New York, NYFri 11/13 - Kelpies - Salon 33
Melissa and I are off to Princeton’s premier listening room for an intimate house concert of our new and old favorites
7-10pm, Email for address and tickets: (https://www.facebook.com/share/1KUDQ12kJi/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
Princeton, NJSat 11/14 - Kelpies - Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library
The show goes on, with an afternoon of Irish trad music and discussion in South Jersey! This is Alicia’s childhood library, too wholesome to miss this one folks
2-3pm, free public event
606 Delsea Dr, Sewell, NJFri 11/20 - Fenian Rams - Fergie’s Pub
Fenian Fridays return to Center City once more, buckle up! Rebel songs, ballads and tunes with my favorite Irish power trio
6-8pm, no cover
1214 Sansom St, Phila, PASat 11/21 - High Strung - Summit Contra Dance with Gaye Fifer calling
More dancing in Mt. Airy, a perfect warm-up for next weekend 👀
7pm lesson, 7:30-10:00pm dance, $10-$20 entry
Summit Presbyterian Church, 6757 Greene St, Phila, PASun 11/22 - Mostly Waltz with Ben Kennedy & Jared Bishop
Enjoy waltzing and some assorted partner dancing with lesson in beautiful Fort Washington. Instruction by Peggy Leiby, Ret Turner and Chris Deephouse.
2:30-3:30pm beginner and intermediate lessons, 3:30-6:00pm dancing, $10-$20 entry
MacColl Auditorium, Parish House, St. Thomas' Church, Whitemarsh, 7020 Camp Hill Road, Fort Washington, PAFri 11/27 - Fenian Rams - Fergie’s Pub
We’re back with songs, tunes and craic in Philly’s favorite pub (it’s definitely mine!)
6-8pm, no cover
1214 Sansom St, Phila, PASat 11/28 - High Strung - ContraCopia
The perfect ending to a mighty Fall gigging season. High Strung plays PATMAD’s spectacular dance weekend, with calling from Liesl Jandrey, Will Mentor and Isaac Sarek Banner. Happily sharing the stage with DJ Chloe Rosenthal and dynamite touring bands Toss the Possum and Cojiro (one of my personal contra heroes)
1:00-3:45pm
Tickets: (https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/contracopia--2026-2)
Commodore John Barry Arts and Cultural Center (The Irish Center) 6815 Emlen St, Phila, PA
Music
Bands
High Strung - Philadelphia's hottest new Contra Dance band, featuring Jared Bishop, Max Thoburn and Adam Bodine. High Strung has brought their fresh approach to the traditional string band to contra floors across the Northeast, from NEFFA to Glen Echo.The Fenian Rams - a Philadelphia based Irish traditional trio featuring Kevin McCloskey and Andrew German. Named in tribute to the Fenian Brotherhood's famed vessel, the Rams perform traditional ballads, tunes and rebel songs in the spirit of the Clancy Brothers, Christy Moore and the Dubliners.The Kelpies - a ferocious fiddle and guitar duo that channels the best of instrumental Irish traditional music. A favorite for intimate concerts, festivals, private events and more. Featuring accomplished violinist/fiddler Melissa Lisbao.Yesterday's Pierogies - a brand new Contra Dance band that fuses Irish, old-time and bluegrass tunes to light up any dance floor. Featuring Kate Saylor, Charles Stockdale and Laura Alexander.
Contact
I am available for private lessons, recording sessions, live performances and more. I teach guitar, Irish tenor banjo, mandolin, and music theory.
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