Central Missouri Celtic Arts Association Newsletter
www.moceltic.orgIn this issue:
* Summer music, dance and language classes begin this week
* Solas Concert July 25
* Second Thursdays at Cherry Street Artisan
* Concert announcement: Two Traditions, One Song
* Thanks------------------------------------------------------------------
Music, Dance and Language classes start this week -- you can still sign up!
Here is the schedule of classes:
Beginning Irish Language with Evan Smith, Tuesdays 7-8 p.m. (6 weeks)
Beginning Irish Whistle with Marie McLean, Wednesdays 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. (4 weeks)
Intermediate Irish Whistle, Wednesdays 6:45 - 7:45 p.m. (4 weeks)
Beginning Irish music -- for people who already play an instrument, Wednesdays 8 - 9 p.m. (8 weeks)Beginning Irish Set Dance, with Christine Harker and Marie McLean -- all ages (6 weeks)
Thursdays 7 - 8:30 (class will meet 5:45 - 7:15 on Thurs July 11.)For more details about these classes and to register, please see www.moceltic.org
There will be a second 4-week session for the beginning and intermediate tin whistle classes, beginning Aug 7.
Marie McLean, Uilleann piper, whistle player and dancer is a guest "artist in residence" for the next eight weeks, here to teach music and dance classes, private lessons and to perform out in public.
If you would like to schedule lessons with Marie, please contact me. Her weekday evenings are quickly filling up.
Join all the summer arts students on August 25 at Cherry Street Artisan for an evening of music, dance, storytelling and song at our End of Summer Ceili. Watch for details as things develop... this will be a wonderful evening of showing off our new skills and celebrating CMCAA's growth over the last year and a half.
Sign up for a class at www.moceltic.org~~ Concert ~~ Concert ~~ Concert ~~ Concert ~~
Get your tickets now at The Blue Note box office! $12 advance or $14 at the door
Solas in concert at The Blue Note, July 25 DON'T MISS THIS ONE!
The Boston Herald has called Solas "the best Irish traditional band in the world." A far cry from being purist dance music, Solas is among the small handful of young, innovative bands that have found a "pop" niche for traditional music, sculpting their sound to have a contemporary edge without breaking faith with their roots.
Seamus Egan, anchor for the band was born in America to Irish parents who returned to Ireland when he was just three. By the time he was 14, he'd won the prestigious All-Ireland championships on four separate instruments: flute, whistle, mandolin and tenor banjo. If that doesn't give you a little hint about how good this band is, I just don't know how to give you a better one.
Many, many thanks to The Blue Note and Richard King for bringing this band to Columbia. Take a friend to this concert -- they will thank you!
Here's a recent NPR article about Solas: http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2002/mar/solas/
And.... as if that's not enough!Local fiddler Tim Langen and our artist-in-residence Uilleann piper Marie McLean will open the show for Solas. I believe the start time is set for 8 p.m. (It's an early show)
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Second Thursdays at Artisan
where: Corner of 9th and Cherry in Columbia
when: Second Thursday of every month, starting July 11 7:30-ish to 10ish p.m.
what: "Celtic Jam"Cherry Street Artisan, a new music venue, gallery, theater and cafe in downtown Columbia will host jam sessions every Thursday evening, rotating the types of music. The second Thursday of every month will be a "Celtic jam", led by the Thursday night Irish session group. This group has been meeting to play Irish music (with the occasional Scottish tune thrown in) on Thursday nights for more than twenty years.
This Thursday, July 11, kicks it off (being the second Thursday of the month). Come on down and meet guest instructor Marie McLean, who will be playing with the group, and welcome her to Columbia. These jams are intended to be open to anyone daring enough to join in, so if you play an instrument bring it along; if you want to dance, bring your dancing shoes; if you have a song, warm it up; or just come to listen and try out the Artisan desserts and coffee--------
Concert Announcement:
Two Traditions, One Song
September 19Two weeks ago Johnny B. Connolly and Aidan Brennan put on a terrific concert at Mojo's -- a fine night of music! Those boys are excellent musicians. It didn't end when the lights came up, though.... afterward, well into the wee hours of the morning, with Johnny and Aidan were jamming with old-time musicians Leela Grace and Kathy Gordon. The song "Shady Grove" got a whole new dimension with Aidan's harmony singing and DADGAD guitar part, and Johnny lilting along with the button accordion. The group found a few tunes in common and volleyed them back and forth switching between Old-time and Irish styles; one minute the tune was Miss McLeod's Reel and the next it was Have You Ever Seen the Devil Uncle Joe, Uncle Joe...same tune, different styles, subtle changes. Mmmmmm. Good stuff!
After a bit of sleep and a kernel of inspiration that earned the "what a good idea!" status, here's what we collectively came up with...
September 19, Two Traditions, One Song
Presented by Central Missouri Celtic Arts AssocA concert event showcasing the common threads of traditional music, dance and song from Ireland and Missouri.
Leela and Ellie Grace
Columbia natives Leela and Ellie have been acclaimed by audiences and fellow musicians alike across the United States for their close harmonies, warm stage presence, driving old-time instrumentals and spirited dancing.Johnny B Connolly and Aidan Brennan
Both originally from Dublin, these two young musicians represent the best of traditional Irish music polished with a fresh style that’s all their own.Seeing the spark that emerges when these four performers come together to share their common passion for music has inspired us to organize this unique concert.
We're working on a venue for this concert. Tickets will go on sale by the end of July.
Are you excited yet?!----------------------
Thanks and More Thanks!
Many thanks go out to all the folks who have helped promote and spread the word about the summer arts classes.
Particular thanks go out to Carol Goodnik, host of Strike the Gay Harp radio show on KOPN (89.5 FM) Sunday afternoons from 3 -5. Carol has given endless support to our events and activities, and in this case recorded three great promo pieces about the classes for play on KOPN all week. If you're not familiar with Carol's show, check it out. Besides having great taste in traditional music, Carol adds interesting and informative readings about timely topics and background information about the selections.Thanks also to all the KOPN programmers who have talked about, promoted and played the recorded spots for the classes.
Another round of applause goes to Marie Hunter at the city Office of Cultural Affairs. She does SO much to foster and nurture the arts in Columbia. Getting our classes added to the KBIA Arts Express announcements is but one tiny example.
David Lile at KFRU and Sarah Agnew at the Tribune have also been a big help in getting our information out to the public.
That's it for now!