Trad Nua Celtic Series: Bella Issakova & Randy Clepper

Violinist Bella Issakova, originally from Bulgaria, is a classically trained musician whose passion  for music spans genres. With over 30 years of performance and teaching experience, Bella’s  musical journey began in orchestras and chamber music before exploring other worlds of  bluegrass, jazz, and — eventually — finding a deep love in Irish traditional music, which led to  performing and touring extensively across the U.S.

Bella’s career highlights include serving as the musical director for Kerry Irish Productions’ “An  Irish Christmas” tour from 2005 to 2018, a national tour that brought the spirit of Ireland to communities across the country. She was also a core member of the Traditional Irish band, The  Red Wellies. When not touring, Bella shares her love for music through teaching at her private  studio in Atlanta and through her leadership of the Intown Atlanta Youth Irish Music group  since 2016, inspiring the next generation of traditional musicians.

Randy Clepper, a multi-instrumentalist based in Ohio, is known for his soulful mastery of the  Irish bouzouki, tenor banjo, fingerstyle guitar, and hammer dulcimer. A Tennessee native,  Randy’s musical roots are as diverse as his instruments, having explored genres from folk to jazz  to bluegrass before embracing the profound rhythms and melodies of Irish music. With  longtime collaborator fingerstyle guitarist John Sherman, the two released the critically  acclaimed album Finally Tuned, which was featured in Irish Music Magazine and ranked among  the top 10 trad albums by Folk Festival WDCB Public Radio in Chicago.

Randy’s performance career includes playing as a member of the eclectic dulcimer ensemble  Hammer On!, opening for Grammy-nominated folk singer John McCutcheon, sharing the stage  with members of the Yanni World Tour and aerial dance troupe Project Bandaloop, and  accompanying respected Irish traditional players. As an educator and festival performer, he  teaches at Irish festivals nationwide. Randy hosts the Trad Nua Celtic Concert Series at  Natalie’s Live Music in Columbus, Ohio, where he features and collaborates with other notable  Celtic musicians.

Fate brought Bella and Randy together in 2019, when an unexpected scheduling mix-up led to a  last-minute festival performance in Kentucky. With only an hour to prepare and no prior  rehearsal, the duo experienced an effortless musical connection that both amazed and  delighted the audience. The crowd’s response solidified the natural chemistry between them,  leading to further collaborations and the creation of their debut album, set to be released in  the fall of 2025.

With a shared commitment to honoring traditional Irish music while exploring its nuances, Bella  and Randy’s partnership reflects a deep passion for the craft, a respect for the past, and a mutual chemistry in their subtle and delicate approach to traditional tunes.

Food & Bar: Our full food and drink menu will be available before and during the show.