Erica Miller/the Ithacan CELTIC MUSICIAN and Ithaca College graduate Chris Woodard performs a song at the Tompkins County Public Library Saturday as part of the Music of Many Landscapes series.

On one of the first really blustery days of October, a group of people gathered in the Borg Warner Community Room of the Tompkins County Public Library to hear Chris Woodard perform an hour of Scottish and Irish melodies.

The Celtic music warmed up the audience on this harshly cold autumn day.

Even though the crowd consisted mostly of adults and young children, he managed to appeal to both groups.

It was like a cozy den setting, where people sat and relaxed while telling stories and singing songs. Before each song, Woodard would give a story or history to go along with it. He addressed the audience like they were his friends, talking with ease and comfort.

Woodard even had the audience participating in the melodies, encouraging the children to sing and clap along, which complemented the tunes.

He sang one of his Irish melodies a cappella, called “The Rattling Bog.” He had the children bouncing along to the music, singing out various phrases. The audience was beaming with a collective smile.

“I’m a father and a teacher and I will even baby-sit your kids,” joked Woodard after his musical interaction with the children.

Throughout his show, Woodard used two acoustic guitars and a mandolin.

He was a very informative performer, letting the audience know exactly what he was playing, how he played it and how he tuned his instruments.

The songs that Woodard played mixed the old and the new of Celtic music. He played traditional folk songs, melodious ballads and songs that were made for step dancing.

“I feel like I should have some people out here dancing,” he said as his fingers slid across the guitar neck in syncopated rhythms.

“Aura Lee” was another melody Woodard strummed on his guitar, informing the audience that the melody has Scottish roots. His delicate rendition of it was so moving that the crowd clapped enthusiastically when it ended.

One could tell Woodard was enjoying himself because he played to the audience with a jovial and youthful smile. The peaceful songs he strummed told a story even without the words that were sung.

“The cares of tomorrow will wait until this day is done,” Woodard sang in the melody to “Come by the Hills.” His singing made the crowd sway along to the music.

Woodard’s talent developed from a long history of musical experience. He began to play music at the age of 16, launching him into a long career of success.

“My whole family – they were all musicians,” he said.

“My first memory of the guitar was listening to my mother play. I was fascinated by it, and she was the first one to teach me.”

Woodard, along with his brother, Brian Hyland, formed the renowned musical duo Celtimorphosis. They have recorded a number of CDs and received an Emmy nomination for producing the soundtrack to the documentary “Hellmiru 1864–1865: The Andersonville of the North.”

Woodard, a master on guitar and the mandolin family, enjoys teaching others in his Ithaca home. He also works in the Cornell Plantations.

Along with Woodard’s diverse background, he was also a music student at Ithaca College. He said in college he had many great influences that led him to where he is now.

“Boy, in college there were several teachers that were really great,” he said.

“My guitar teacher and music theory teacher, they were wonderful musicians, but also very solid people, and that is what it’s really all about.

As an accomplished musician, Woodard gave his advice to aspiring musicians. “It’s becoming harder than ever to get out there,” he said. “The first thing I would say is don’t ever let anyone discourage you from doing it.”