Terry Kane Sings

Helene Zisook Speer was a classically trained violinist from the age of six and an alumna of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. In college, she turned her bow to Celtic, British, Eastern European, and Klezmer music as a founding member of the folk-rock band Broadside Electric and is featured on their many recordings. She has also been spotted playing avant-garde and progressive rock as well as musical theater. She regularly fiddles for folk dances in the Philadelphia area. She met Terry in 2022 providing lively fiddle arrangements and vocal harmonies for 3 years in the trio The Jameson Sisters.

Jim Speer- plays bass, accordion, and other instruments) for several local dance and performing groups, including songwriting duo Winchester-Perry, Mr. David’s Drawings, Songs, and Silliness, and English dance band Earl Grey Hot. Many of our new arrangements for this dance are a product of Helene and Jim’s collaboration.  He has played in Philadelphia electro-folk band Broadside Electric, noise/performance art groups UNSOUND, and Invasion of Time. Currently Jim and Helene perform with the band Broadside Kinetic, which plays often for contra dances at the Irish Center in Philadelphia.

Laura Alexander - Has extensive experience in English Country Dance and Contra Dance throughout the Delaware Valley.  She plays cello and tenor violin and is currently part of Box and String Trio.

Terry Kane grew up in a proud community of Irish-Americans who had emmigrated to the Fingerlakes Region of NY from Ireland at the time of the potato famine. The youngest of 11 children, she can’t remember a day without song and dance; harmonizing with her mother and siblings. Tap dancing and square dancing were also a part of every week but Terry’s mother was proudest of her grandfather’s Irish step dancing and the history of set dancing the family continued among the local Irish farmers on “Paddy’s Hill.” Terry attended Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY, receiving a Master's Degree in Music Education and teaching elementary music for many years in the public school setting.  
After moving to the Philadelphia area she was able to take Irish language classes from Deirdre McFarland and from native Irish speakers who had immigrated from Co. Donegal, (Dún na nGall). Terry has continued her studies for nearly 30 years, including many trips to Ireland to collect songs and take Irish language and singing courses and enjoying céilí dances across Ireland.  She currently hosts several monthly Irish music sessions, performs at festivals throughout the summer and joins her brother's band for dances and festivals. She sings and plays popular American music in many styles several times a week for private events.