The
Celtic Experience
Band

Meet the members of the 12-piece Celtic Experience Band.

Made up of some of the area's most talented musicians, the Celtic Experience Band headlines the show with music from a variety of genres - from holiday favorites to traditional Celtic tunes and more!

CJ Mills

Producer, Fiddle

CJ started his musical career at the age of 6 playing the violin in the Bensalem music program and performing in the district orchestras until graduating from Bensalem High School in 1993. Since the age of 20, he has been playing professionally and has played in rock, bluegrass, country and Irish bands including Love Seed Mama Jump, Fourwood, Roundtower, Killen Thyme and Jamison Celtic Rock. Currently he plays in the band Rustic Revival and plays acoustic shows regularly with artists from the Philadelphia music scene. Mills has been a teacher at Bensalem High School for the past 25 years where he teaches Media Communications and is the Executive Producer of The Owls Television Network. CJ is also the Executive Producer of the Philadelphia Fleadh and the Celtic Christmas Experience.

Kimberly Killen

Vocals, Tin Whistle, Percussion

Kim Killen has been a part of this show since its inception. Her voice is one of the most powerful you will have the pleasure to hear, and she is no stranger to the stage, or to the Philly Music Scene. Singing since she was a little girl, Kim has been in multiple bands, playing many genres of music over the years. Starting with The Patriots, she was one of the first bands to play Irish Weekend in North Wildwood. She went on to become the lead singer for the popular band Causeway and then Killen Thyme. Kim currently plays in the rock band Vuja De and in the acoustic duo Killen Clarke.

Keith Harris

Bass Guitar

Keith is a multi instrumental professional musician who works for Ibanez guitars as his day job. Keith has played in many of the pits for multiple musicals in the surrounding area and we are very excited to welcome his amazing playing to the Celtic Christmas stage.

Laura Elbahtimy

Piano, Keyboards, Violin, Vocals

Once an active student in Bensalem’s band, orchestra, and choral programs, Laura is now in her fourteenth year as the General Music Teacher at Rush and Struble Elementary Schools where she teaches students kindergarten through sixth grade, and conducts the 4th- 6th grade chorus. In 2011, Laura implemented a guitar curriculum servicing all 5th and 6th graders, which has now evolved into Rush’s after school rock group, “The Roadrunners.” Laura received her Bachelor of Music Education, piano concentration, from the University of Maryland, and her Masters of Education from Cabrini College.

Shaun Durnin

Vocals, Acoustic Guitar

Shaun Durnin has been playing all over the area as a solo acoustic act and often as a duo. Raised listening to Irish music from his father who was from Ireland, Durnin has Celtic music running through his veins. A trained vocalist, Shaun has an amazing voice as well as great licks on the guitar.

Martin Bradfield

Drums

(Drums) has been a versatile and popular drummer and teacher on the Philly scene since 1977. In his career he has taught over 12,000 students and over 55,000 drum lessons. When not teaching, Martin plays out in different bands. In addition to his own jazz groups, wedding bands, drum ensembles, drum clinics, theater work and studio work, Martin was in the popular Philly based Irish band Causeway for many years. As a testimony to his versatility, he has shared the professional stage with groups and artists as diverse as Julius La Rosa through Danny and the Juniors, The Shirelles, The Platters, Jimmy Heath, Al Grey, Tommy Dedesco from the Wrecking Crew, and many others. When forced to declare a favorite outlet, Martin says, “I love the range and passion of the Irish Music and its fans”.

Bob Hurst

Vocals, Accordian, Tin Whistle

Bob Hurst (accordian, bass clarinet, vocals) is a dynamic and versatile multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who has fronted three groups, and has toured around the North-Eastern US, Ireland and on cruise ships in the Caribbean. Trained as a classical pianist, he has performed for over 40 years in Classical Ensembles, Concert & Marching Bands, and Orchestra and Rock Band Formats on Piano, Piano accordion, Clarinet/Bass Clarinet, Tin Whistle, Guitar (Acoustic and Electric), and Irish Drum/Bodhran. He has performed alongside many musicians in the Philadelphia area, and currently performs with the Irish rock group, Bogside Rogues, as band leader and front man.

Hailey Mills

Vocals

Hailey has been a Celtic Flame dancer in the shows since its inception and a member of the Celtic Experience Band for the past four years. Hailey started singing as a toddler with her first live performance at 3 years old as she sang Your Love on stage with Mike Lecompt. She went on to record on Meg Russel’s CD, Hat Parade and perform at World Café Live. Since then Hailey has been participating in talent shows, singing the National Anthem at local sporting events, sitting in with her Dad’s bands, and graduated from Bensalem High School in 2024, where she was an active member of the Bensalem choir and musicals.

John Gorbe

Lead Electric Guitar

John started his musical journey at 5 years old. As soon as he was able to hold a guitar he took lessons and joined as many musical activities as he could. Gorbe started performing in the Bensalem music program for every elementary, middle and high school ensemble before graduating in 1992. He continued his studies at Bucks County Community College before transferring to the University of the Performing Arts where he graduated in 1997. Since then, John has taught guitar, improv, harmony and ear training and has several endorsements and support of music companies. When John is not performing with the country band, Rustic Revival, or performing solo Jazz guitar, he can be found filming demos of gear or producing videos for Ibanez demonstrating new guitar models for the NAMM show each year.

LJ Hall

Vocals, Guitar

LJ Hall has quickly become one of the hottest names in country music in the Philadelphia area. He started performing solo gigs two years ago at the age of 16 at local bars in Philadelphia and the Jersey Shore and then grew his act doing some duo work here and there. At 17, he became one of the featured guest vocalists for the Celtic Christmas Experience, and now, at the ripe old age of 18 is the lead singer and acoustic guitar player for the country band Rustic Revival. LJ stays busy playing music every week year round solo, in the Rustic Trio and in the full band. LJ is currently a senior at Benjamin Rush Performing Arts High School in Philadelphia.

B.A.M.N. Productions

Sound and Lights

B.A.M.N. Productions is a Philadelphia based sound and lighting company that has been in business for over ten years. A family business, B.A.M.N stands for By Any Means Necessary, and Tym Johnson and his crew stand true to their name. The equipment, expertise, and professionalism is second to none, and it is why they are the company chosen to run both stages at The Philadelphia Fleadh, as well as all lighting and sound for all of The Celtic Christmas shows.

The Celtic Experience Band