Rio Navarro featured in the LA Times!

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people gather to celebrate Irish culture at the international Fleadh Cheoil or “Feast of Music.” The weeklong event is the largest of its kind. It attracts thousands of musicians from all over the world who compete in traditional Irish music, storytelling and dance. That includes one teen from L.A. Rio Navarro, whose interest in Irish dancing led him to a love of traditional Irish accordion.

We couldn't be more excited for Rio, featured in the LA Times! Read the article here.

Early Days at Cleary

When Rio joined Team Cleary at age six, he was quiet, observant, and a little hesitant. He spoke very little in those early days, choosing instead to watch and listen—to the dancers, to the music, to the movement. Since then, his quiet observation has turned into discipline and drive.

Today, Rio is not only an accomplished Irish dancer, currently a 5x Western US Regional Champion and 3rd in North America, but he is also the 2024 All-Ireland champion in Piano Accordion.

Irish dance became a steady part of Rio’s life as he got older, and he approaches it with a focused mindset, always wanting to improve and never shying away from hard work.

Discovering the Accordion

At competitions, the live music sparked something new. He became fascinated by the accordion, and for his tenth birthday, asked his mom for lessons. He began studying both classical and traditional Irish styles, and even during COVID, kept learning virtually from teachers across the country.

The road to the All-Ireland Fleadh—the world championships for Irish traditional music—wasn’t easy. After his first trip to Ireland, Rio returned home feeling like he had more to prove. So he did what he always does: he practiced more.

Each year, his placement improved. And in 2024, after years of steady practice and travel, he took home first place in his age group. His name is now etched into the All-Ireland winner’s cup. Congrats Rio! We couldn't be prouder.