Newsletter -June 22, 2002
In this issue:
Hi folks!
I have so much great stuff crammed in this newsletter, I hardly knew what order to put it all in. I apologize for the length, but it's all worth reading, I promise! Some really exciting things are happening this summer -- with lots of opportunities for YOU and your family & friends to participate! Please let other folks interested in Celtic music and culture know -- forward this newsletter along. Thanks! -Kate
LAST CALL!
Aidan Brennan workshop Sunday: "The Irish Song Tradition" -- you can participate!
When: THIS Sunday June 23, 2 - 3:30 p.m.
Where: 1411 Anthony St. in Columbia.
Call to reserve a spot and get directions: 573-442-2048
Fee: $25.00 / $12 for 16 & under attending with an adultThis Sunday, guest musician and singer Aidan Brennan will teach a workshop called "The Irish Song Tradition." We have just enough people signed up to make it go, but there is still room if you want to participate.
Learn a bit about traditional Irish songs and singing, different styles of singing and types of songs, and a bit about some of the great Irish singers. Aidan will incorporate storytelling and songs and teach us a few song. Singing will be encouraged, but not mandatory.
~~ Concert Tomorrow ~~ Concert Tomorrow ~~ Concert Tomorrow ~~
Johnny B. Connolly and Aidan Brennan, traditional Irish music and songs
THIS Sunday, June 23 at Mojo’s, http://www.mojosloudfoodhotmusic.com/
Doors open at 7:00 p.m., show starts at 7:30 p.m.
All ages are welcome.
Admission: $10 CMCAA members, $12 public, Kids 14 & under attend freeButton accordion player “Johnny Box” is only 26 but already has a contract with Celtic music label Green Linnet and has performed with The Chieftains, Kevin Burke, Aidan Brennan and other internationally acclaimed Irish musicians. Dublin-native, guitarist and singer Aidan Brennan will be with him for this event.
“Since meeting in Dublin, Ireland, nearly five years ago, Johnny B. Connolly and Aidan Brennan have made a dynamic musical duo. Brennan’s guitar and vocals, coupled with Connolly’s traditional accordion create a sound that is both traditional and modern. The melodies are recognizable as Irish standards, while the duo’s style and attitude brings an updated feel to the music.” - Jim Foster, The Coloradoan, Friday, September 21, 2001
More detailed bios for both: http://www.torchlake.com/blackbird/Johnny%20B%20Connolly%20&%20Aidan%20Brennan.htm Johnny’s web site: www.johnnybconnolly.com
Introducing Marie McLean, CMCAA summer artist in residence
Following on the success of our first foray last summer with Claire O'Gorman from Tipperary, who spent the summer in Columbia teaching Irish language classes, we're doing it again. This summer, musician and dancer Marie McLean will be spending July and August in Columbia, teaching music and dance classes and performing locally.
Marie is from the city of Newry in County Down, Northern Ireland. She has toured as a professional musician with the Gaelforce Dance Company, a music and dance production spinoff of Riverdance; toured Europe with,"Divil the Bit" and played in the All-Ireland Competition-winning Grupai Cheoil band.
She plays the Uilleann pipes (Irish bagpipes) and tin whistles and has taught music extensively. She learned to play music by ear as a child and later completed a music degree in college. In the fall she returns to graduate school to pursuit a degree in education with the intention of becoming a primary school teacher.
This is a great opportunity to learn Irish music from an experienced "source player" -- someone who has grown up immersed in the wellspring of traditional music.
Marie will be in Columbia from July 10 to September 1. This has happened pretty quickly, just in the last week and We're still working out all the logistics of her stay. Fees from the classes she teaches for CMCAA will pay for her travel and living expenses.
Please help us make this successful by spreading the information about this opportunity! :)
!!! SUMMER CLASSES - Music, Dance and Language !!!! (Are you excited yet?!)
Here are just the nutshell descriptions -- full details and online registration are here: http://www.chivalry.com/moceltic/summer-classes.html
Family discounts available!Beginning Irish (Gaelic) Language (6-week session)
Tuesday evenings, 7 to 8 p.m., July 9 to August 13
Instructor:Evan Smith, Ph.D. Fee: $40.Beginning Irish Set Dancing for Adults and Teens (6-week session)
Instructors: Christine Harker and Marie McLean;
Thursday evenings July 11 – Aug 15
Fee: $40/ind or $70/couple/pair (bring a friend and save!)Beginning Irish Set Dancing for Kids ages 7 – 12 (6-week session)
Weeks of July 10 to August 15, Fee: $40.Beginning Irish Music for Teens and Adults - All instruments
(Expectation: you know how to play your instrument well enough to find the notes on it either by ear or by reading sheet music. This class won't teach you the fundamentals of how to play an instrument.)
8 weeks, July 10 - Sept 1.
Instructor: Marie McClean
Fee: $60Beginning Irish Tin whistle, flute and Uilleann pipes for Teens and Adults
(This is for learning HOW to play these instruments. Whistles available for loan or purchase. Aspiring pipers can talk with Marie about getting a practice chanter.)
2 4-week sessions, July 10 - Aug 1 and Aug 7 - Aug 30.
fee: $40 each sessionIntermediate Irish Tin Whistle, flute and Uilleann pipes for Teens and Adults
Instructor: Marie McLean
2 4-week sessions -- July 10 to Aug 1 and Aug 8 to Aug 30. (So folks can take beginning first then join intermediate. Different tunes taught in each session)
Fee:$40 each sessionKids Can Play the Irish Tin Whistle! Ages 7 – 12
Instructor: Marie McLean 4 weeks, July 10 - Aug 1.
Fee: $45 Fee includes your whistle and book. Learn to play the Irish tin whistle.Private lessons -- Uilleann pipes, tin whistle and Irish flute $20 / hour lesson, $10 / half-hour lesson
Please don't delay registering if you are interested in these classes.
Send questions/comments & suggestions to Kate Akers kakers@chivalry.com
view details and register online:
http://www.chivalry.com/moceltic/summer-classes.html
Hands-On Workshop: Make Your Own Irish Flute!
Using simple and inexpensive materials (pvc pipe, cork, and sandpaper), make an Irish six-hole flute that is tuned to the key of D – the most common key for Irish & Scottish traditional music. Hey! Make your flute and sign up for the Beginning Whistle, Flute and Pipes class to learn how to play it!
Two sessions: Wed. July 10 and 17, 3:00pm - 5:30pm
MU Craft Studio on the 2nd floor of Brady Commons
Fee: $12.00
Instructor: Christian Cepel, MU music student
Register at the MSA/GCP box office on the first floor of Brady Commons or directly with the Craft Studio. Phone: 882-2889
~~ Concert ~~ Concert ~~ Concert ~~
Solas, July 25 at The Blue Note
Tickets $12 advance, $14 at the door.
Get your tickets at The Blue Note box office.Richard King, owner of The Blue Note and co-owner of Mojo's (music venues in Columbia) has shown great enthusiasm and support for the growing local interest in Celtic music. He recently brought Celtic rock band Seven Nations to play at Mojo's and now he's really stepping out by booking the internationally acclaimed Irish-American band Solas to play at The Blue Note on July 25. Solas plays driving, stylized traditional music punctuated with Karen Casey's unmistakable sweet singing. You can read more about Solas here: http://www.rambles.net/solas.html (and many other places on the web - I just thought this was a nice broad review - do a search for "Solas Irish band" on www.google.com )
Cherry Street Artisan - Call for musicians
Cherry Street Artisan is a new business opening in downtown Columbia in early July. Offering a unique atmosphere, this will be a cafe, theatre and gallery. The cafe includes a coffee and espresso bar, breakfast pastries & a lunchtime menu, desserts, coffee corretto drinks (coffee-based liqueur drinks) and fine wines and beer.
Besides food and beverages Artisan plans to embrace and showcase artists and their talents. They will have a great menu of live music -- lunchtime background instrumentalists, Thursday night jam sessions, and concerts on Fridays and Saturdays (all smoke-free).
Right now they are looking for about 20 people to play lunches M-F, committing to one assigned day a month. This will be a chance for people who might not venture out to your evening performances to see what they're missing! Lunchtime performers will receive Artisan lunch and coffee on us, and we'll start the tip jar with $10.
Carissa Varnell, Artistic manager says, "It's not a huge compensation I know, but with your help, the Artisan lunchtime gigs will become world famous, and then we can give you a new car and flashy sunglasses." Friday and Saturday night gigs will operate on a cover charge. If you are interested, know someone who is, or just want to hear more, contact Carissa at Cherry Street Artisan (573) 817-3274 or Carissa@cherrystreetartisan.com
PSSSsssttt -- The Thursday Night Irish session group will be playing at Artisan the second Thursday evening each month.
UK & Ireland travel guide library and tips -- we want your leftover brochures, B&B recommendations, etc
When you get ready to plan a vacation what's the first thing you do? If you're like most people, you ask friends who've already been to where you're going what to see and do, where to stay, what to eat, etc. Am I right?
Let's build a community asset of travel advice! If you've recently been to Ireland or the UK and have books, pamphlets or brochures leftover from places you'd recommend to others, calling cards from favorite B&B's, postcards, maps or other such junk that's gathering dust in a drawer, we want it! Also wanted -- your narrative accounts of the highlights, must-sees and stay-away-froms of your adventures.
You can bring materials to us at Twighlight Fest, concerts Wednesday slow jam, classes, etc. or arrange to drop them off to a CMCAA advisory group member. You can bring things to the Johnny and Aidan concert this Sunday, even!
CMCAA members can borrow the whole library to browse when planning a trip.
If you're going to the UK or Ireland in the near future, how about picking up an extra copy or two of brochures for us!
Fall concerts! It doesn't feel like fall now, but it will be here soon enough. We have some great concerts planned already:
September 28, Bernie & Barbara McDonald, Traditional Irish music
October 13, Scottish singer & songwriter Ed Miller (www.songsofscotland.com)
October 25, Navan - a capella harmonies, Irish singing ( www.navan.org )
November 24, Ben Sands and Brendan Monaghan, Trad Irish plus original songsAnd... possibly a Welsh music concert in December -- still being considered.
That's all for this issue. Thanks for reading this far! :)