Kevin Elam is a multi-instrumentalist and 2019 All-Ireland Champion in Men's Singing. Although he boasts a strong background in classical piano and choral singing, and a degree in jazz keyboard, Kevin is rooted in Irish traditional music. In addition to playing the tin whistle, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin and banjo, Kevin has also honed his skills as a singer and interpreter of Irish traditional song, cultivating a significant repertoire of ballads. This intensive practice and study of the tradition were formally recognized in August of 2019, when he was awarded first place in Men's English Singing at the 2019 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, held in Drogheda, Ireland, and took home the coveted “Dalaigh Shield”, an award only won by one other American in its 65-year history.

In addition to his title in Men's Singing, Kevin has also won second place medals in Accompaniment (2022), Newly-Composed Songs (2023) and Newly-Composed Tunes (2026) at the All-Ireland Fleadh. He is a highly decorated competitor back home at the CCE Mid-Atlantic Fleadh, including nine first-place awards (tin whistle, singing, accompaniment, piano, composition, and miscellaneous instrument). In 2020, Kevin was awarded a grant from George Mason University’s Young Artist Commissioning Project, and consequently recorded his debut album of traditional ballads, If I Were A Small Bird, released in September 2021. In 2023, Kevin was honored to perform and collaborate as one of six Artists in Residence at Strathmore Music Hall in Bethesda, MD. Most recently, he was selected as one of twelve VOCES8 US Choral Scholars for the 2026-2027 season.

Kevin enjoys a busy performance schedule in the U.S. and abroad, appearing both as a soloist and with several ensembles at many of the top Irish and Scottish festivals, venues and concert series. Performance credits include the Festival Interceltique du Lorient in Brittany, France; Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Ireland; Boston Early Music Festival; Boston Celtic Music Festival; Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, VA; the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, MD; and numerous well-known venues in Washington DC such as the Kennedy Center, National Gallery of Art, Library of Congress, and Washington Folk Festival. Kevin has also toured extensively with Scottish National Fiddle Champion Sean Heely, performing throughout the country at Highland games, Celtic festivals, concert halls and much more.

Kevin greatly enjoys sharing his knowledge and insight with students, and has established a reputation as an excellent teacher. In addition to giving group workshops - such as with the prestigious faculty of DC's premiere Irish traditional music festival, MAD Week - Kevin also gives private lessons in piano, guitar, bouzouki, tin whistle, and voice, and creates online lesson content on Patreon and Youtube.

Kevin stays quite busy with other musical pursuits outside of the Irish traditional music scene. Holding a BM in Jazz Studies from George Mason University, Kevin performs on occasion as a pianist in jazz and popular styles in the DC area. He has also developed a reputation as a skilled chamber singer, and enjoys singing Renaissance polyphony (as well as other choral works) with several professional choirs (Ascension & St. Agnes Episcopal, Washington National Cathedral, VOCES8 Choral Scholars, etc), as well as directing his own a cappella chamber group, Ars Populi. Kevin can be heard playing and singing on Mondays at the weekly Irish trad session at the Irish Inn in Glen Echo, and at a variety of other DC area sessions.