About Tricia Riley

Tricia Fairman Riley is a violinist and fiddler based in MIlwaukee, Wisconsin. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, music has taken her on a journey to the Pacific Northwest and back to the Midwest.

Ms. Riley teaches a variety of styles and genres of fiddle and violin playing, including classical strings,  jazz, Irish, Scottish and Americana fiddle. She incorporates a Suzuki-style teaching approach, believing that students of every age - can. A favorite compliment from a former 10-yo student is she is “firm, but nice” in her teaching approach; meaning Ms. Riley won’t let you off the hook on scales, but will reward that effort with teaching your favorite song.

Ms. Riley’s musical journey started at 8-yo when she was gifted a violin for her birthday. She studied string pedagogy at The Ohio State University with Drs. Kai Hui Tan and Robert Gillespie, receiving her Bachelor’s in Music Education in 2009. Ms. Riley is passionate for contemporary and new music, and loves discovering new or little known composers. She is an Irish and Scottish fiddler, and has performed and recorded with Celtic Rock groups Ockham’s Razor (Seattle, WA 2016-2023) and Sons of Malarkey (Portland, OR 2014-16). Ms. Riley performs with Prime Country MKE, and teaches workshops in Irish and Scottish fiddle stylings at community cultural festivals.