A little background info....
Where the heck is Columbia MO?
Click for a detailed Missouri mapColumbia is located in the middle of Missouri, about halfway between St. Louis and Kansas City with a year-round population of about 90,000. It's the home of the main campus of the University of Missouri, plus two other colleges: Columbia College and Stephens College, so there is a large student population that contributes to a very diverse and international community. At the bottom of the page you'll find some links to web sites for community organizations and businesses.
Celtic Arts in Central Missouri
For the last six years we've had a Summer Arts Program that has included music, dance and language classes taught by guest instructors. On our media articles page you'll find news stories about our past summer programs. We're a small but growing organization, not affiliated with Comhaltas, but following much the same principles. We try to incorporate more than just Irish music and arts, presenting concerts by Scottish musicians as well, but the local interest has predominantly been for Irish music, and that's what we've found to be the most sustainable.
In the summer of 2002, Marie McLean, a piper from Antrim was our artist-in-residence, teaching whistle, pipes and Irish language. In 2003 Deirdre Harnedy and Helen Gubbins, both UCC students, came for the summer to teach whistle, flute, accordion, accompaniment (piano and guitar), learning music by ear, and Irish language. We also offered a week long "day camp" for young children and teens that was very successful . In addition to music and language, it included set and step dance taught by local instructors. In addition, Helen and Deirdre taught weekly classes for adults and youth and performed at various local venues.
In 2004 UCC student Una Ni Fhlannagain came for the summer to teach harp, fiddle, whistle, Irish language and sean nos dancing. She also volunteered at KOPN radio and learned how to "run the boards" (be a DJ).
In 2005 we hosted All-Ireland fluter Sinead Fahey (UCC student), who also taught whistle, accordion, mandolin, bodhran, step dancing and Irish.
Deirdre Harnedy returned in 2006 for an intense 4-week program of teaching music classes.
Brian Hart, a native of St. Louis taught Irish language, whistle, accordion, concertina, singing, tunes-by-ear (all instruments) and sean nos dancing in summer 2007.
There is a regular session on Thursday nights with a core group of about a dozen musicians who have been playing Irish music for many years, but are always eager to improve and learn new tunes. There is also a "slow jam" beginners session on Wednesday nights.
This summer, we intend to hold weekly classes for an 8-week session and have a celebration ceili at the end of the classes. We're also working with other community organizations to have one-time classes for children through their existing summer programs.
Please have a look around our web site to see more of what we do. www.moceltic.org
What's the benefit for you as an artist-in-residence?
Besides the obvious direct benefits of paid travel, etc., you will gain experience teaching adults and children, organizing classes and music events, have opportunities to perform, organize gigs for yourself, and build contacts and references for your future endeavors.Plus.....warm (hot!) weather, lots of sunshine, very little rain, opportunities to canoe on Missouri's excellent rivers, visit Kansas City and St. Louis, attend Milwaukee Irish Fest in August, and get to know the "other side" of the USA -- if you've been to New York or Boston, you're in for something different. The midwest is slower paced, welcoming and, well... rural by comparison.
If you would like a first hand account from folks who've been here before, feel free to contact them directly.
Deirdre Harnedy: e-mail: fluter_d AT hotmail.com
Helen Gubbins: e-mail: helen.gubbins AT hotmail.com
Una ni Fhlannagain: unaniharpist AT hotmail.com
Sinead Fahey: soineann AT gmail.com
Brian Hart: ohairt AT yahoo.comIf you have more questions about our summer arts program that haven't been answered, you can contact Kate Akers, activities coordinator and board president. kakers@chivalry.com phone: +1 573-442-2048
Some Columbia info:
www.gocolumbiamo.com Columbia Visitors Bureau
www.showmenews.com Columbia Tribune newspaper
www.discoverthedistrict.com Columbia Downtown Business District
www.kopn.org KOPN Community-owned radio station in Columbia MO (always looking for volunteers, and will give board-operater training
www.missouri.edu University of Missouri - Columbia
mmtd.missouri.org Mid-Missouri Traditional Dancers
http://www.columbiamo.net/ Columbia MO general infowww.iheartcolumbia.com --- lots more resources about Columbia
