Athena Tergis showed a love and talent for the fiddle at an early age.  She began with the Suzuki method of violin at age four, developing her quick ear for learning music at an early age.  She found her true voice in the freedom of traditional folk music and surrounded herself with the finest exponents of traditional fiddling from Scotland, Cape Breton, and Ireland, studying with such greats as Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh, Alasdair Fraser and Buddy MacMaster. 

At 16 years old, Athena released Journey Begun on Culburnie Records, an album of original music with fellow fiddler Laura Risk, touring throughout America as well as Canadian Festivals.  In Ireland, she immersed herself in Irish traditional music, her talent attracting the attention of renowned box accordion player Sharon Shannon, who invited Athena to join her band for their ‘97 European festival tour.  Her work in the Sharon Shannon Band includes the recording of the Gail Force TV series.  She toured throughout the British Isles with various artists including Gino Lupari of Four Men and a Dog, participating in the 2000 Celtic Connections Festival.  After living in Galway, Belfast and London, Athena was featured in the production of Lord of the Dance in Las Vegas, and subsequently was invited to become the principal fiddler for the Broadway production of Riverdance  where she dazzled audiences with her stunning musicianship, presence and raw energy.

After completing the year and a half run of Riverdance on Broadway, Athena started her own production company and record label Solarsonic Records with fellow musician Fionn O Lochlainn, and built Sonic Arts Studios, a professional recording studio in Brooklyn, NY.  During this time Athena met and teamed up with noted Irish musician and recording artist Mick Moloney, playing regularly together in The Green Fields of America.  Their collaboration continues with performances at various Celtic Festivals.  Athena has recorded with numerous artists ranging in diverse styles from Niamh Parsons, to Mick Maloney, to sax player Clarence Clemmons of The E- Street Band, with whom she toured worldwide for over a year.

In 2007, Athena released her solo album A Letter Home on Compass Records.  Produced by John Doyle, it includes an "A list" roster of supporting musicians and represents her deep appreciation of Irish traditional music.  Her album with The Green Fields of America, also on Compass Records, exemplifies the melding of  Irish and American music which is still going on today.  It includes contributions from many special guests who have been part of the group over the years, as well as the current core members: Mick Moloney, Billy Mc Commiskey, John Doyle, Robbie O’Connel and Athena Tergis.  Athena Tergis and The Green Fields of America are featured in the award-winning documentary Absolutely Irish! produced by Paul Wagner in 2007. 

Now living in the village of Montalcino, Italy, Athena and husband Mario Bollag have built a state of the art recording studio called Terra Linda Studios in the hills of Tuscany. While touring regularly on her own and with The Green Fields of America, Athena is also very involved in running their winery, Terralsole (www.terralsole.com).