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Spring greetings from the Center for Irish Music,
With Saint Patrick's Day festivities behind us, we are enjoying a week of relative relaxation as we gear up for the Minnesota Irish Music Weekend, the Midwest Regional Fleadh and the Celtic Junction Children's Fair. Register now for the Minnesota Irish Music Weekend!
Thanks to all of the volunteers who helped at the CIM booth at the IMDA Landmark Center events! We very much appreciate your donation of time and willingness to share your enthusiasm for the CIM.
Thanks also to the ensemble musicians who brought traditional Irish music into the community with 18 performances
during the first two weeks of March - a record for CIM! The phones have been ringing off the hook with lesson inquiries ever since. You are an inspiration to us all!
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Christine, Jevon and Ginger Anderson (not all related!) volunteer at the CIM booth at the Landmark Center. |
Looking ahead to May, 22 CIM students and instructors will be travelling to the Midwest Regional Fleadh in St. Louis on a charter bus - a community-building initiative supported by gifts to the Travel Fund made at Éigse CIM, 2016. Students will compete in solo, duo, trio and group competitions.
In addition to a major CIM contingent at the fleadh, the one and only Tom Dahill has organized a band called the Pig's Eye Ceili band to compete in the Senior Ceili Band competition, including CIM instructors
Chad McAnally, Mattie Ernst, Charlie Heymann, John McCormick and Mary Vanorny.
Mark your calendars for April 28th for a chance to support them at a benefit at the Celtic Junction as a part of Irish Arts Week.
I am thrilled to announce that
we reached our fundraising goal of $10,000 for "Instruments for CIM" at Éigse CIM, A Gaela Event 2017! Orders are in for a button accordion, two delrin flutes, a set of practice pipes from Tommy Martin and we have a fresh batch of whistles from Irish On Grand ready for summer term.
Thanks for your generous contributions to this initiative!
Finally, mark your calendars for Saturday, February 24th for Éigse CIM, A Gaela Event 2018 and enjoy spring break!
Norah Rendell
Executive Director
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Registration is now open for
the 10th
Anniversary
Minnesota Irish Music Weekend
June 9-11
Featuring world-class traditional musicians:
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John Carty
fiddle, banjo
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Colm O'Donnell
flute, whistle, song
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James Kelly
fiddle
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Méabh Begley
accordion, song
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Sean Gavin
flute, uilleann pipes
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WORKSHOPS · LECTURES · CONCERT · SESSIONS
Presented by the Center for Irish Music, the Minnesota Irish Music Weekend is a unique festival that pairs world-class traditional Irish musicians and teachers with learners of all ages and abilities for a weekend of workshops, lectures, the Friday night Great Session Experience and a rare and virtuosic Saturday night concert.
In addition to workshops by visiting artists, we are offering a wide selection of workshops on harp, guitar, bouzouki, introduction to Irish fiddle, sean nos dance and how to learn a tune by ear, taught by regional instructors. A full list of adult workshops is available on our
website.
Take advantage of early bird discounts when you register and pay by May 15!
An additional 5% discount is available to GNIPC members, Traditional Singers' Club members, and current CIM students and donors until May 15 only.
Financial aid is available for all programs. Apply by May 15.
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Join us for a FREE open house for children and their families to see, hear, and play at Irish Dance, Music and Stories, with crafts, games, popcorn and juice!
- Dance a jig with the O'Shea Irish Dancers.
- Listen to some rolicking tunes & try instruments with the Center for Irish Music.
- Storytime & puppets with the Eoin McKiernan Library
- Games and raffle tickets with the Irish Fair of Minnesota
- Face painting with the Irish Music and Dance Association
- Juice, popcorn and a chance to win an American Girl Doll with the Irish Dance Parents Association.
- Art time & soda bread recipes with the Minnesota Feis.
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2017 Midwest Fleadh Cheoil Info
The Midwest Fleadh Cheoil is a regional music competition organized by the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, hosted by St. Louis Irish Arts in St. Louis on May 12-13, 2017.
Practice Fleadh - April 23rd
CIM will host a practice fleadh on Sunday, April 23rd from 12-3pm, right before the Celtic Junction Arts Center Children's Fair! All solo, duo and trio competitors are welcome to sign up for a 15 minute slot to perform your selections in front of a practice "adjudicator" (CIM instructor). A sign-up genius will be circulated to competitors in the next few days.
Minneapolis Feis & OID Feis Music Competitions - April 29th & 30th
Both of these dance competitions include music competitions. They are a great chance to practice and get constructive feedback about your tunes & songs, helping to prepare you for the Midwest Fleadh.
Charter Bus
A charter bus is available for a cost of $100 per person. A $50 stipend is available to all CIM students who are competing in the Fleadh. All bus reservations must be paid in full by Wednesday, April 12th. Please mail or drop off checks to CIM by April 12th.
All bus travelers are required to sign a 'Release and Waiver of Liability and Assumption of Risk Agreement' before they can board the bus. This form can be picked up at CIM, or
downloaded from our website. Please scan/mail/drop off your signed form (and a signed form for *each* traveler under 18) to the CIM Office by April 21st.
For more information, visit our Midwest Fleadh page at:
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IMDA Educational Grant applications due April 15
Apply today for an educational grant from the Irish Music and Dance Association!
The Educational Grant program is designed to help students of all ages pursue an interest in the traditional arts of Ireland. Funds can be used for classes, fees, travel expenses, or equipment purchases. Grant recipients then bring their new skills back to our community by performing at an IMDA event in the Twin Cities.
Become an IMDA Member
The Irish Music and Dance Association invites you to become a member of IMDA.
IMDA supports and promotes traditional Irish music throughout the year in a variety of ways. IMDA hosts the St. Patrick's Day Irish Celebration and Day of Irish Dance at Landmark Center each March. IMDA also hosts IMDA Honors annually, with a special evening devoted to an outstanding member of our Irish community. The 2016 honoree was CIM's own John McCormick. And IMDA makes Educational Grants to aspiring students of traditional music and dance.
Members receive the monthly IMDA newsletter by email. This year, IMDA has two special incentives for membership - IMDA's 2 disc CD of local music "Hooley in the Heartland" and a "proud to be an IMDA member bumper sticker." Bands who become members have priority listing on IMDA's Community Resources List. AND - until March 31, members will be eligible for a drawing for a $250 gift certificate from R.F. Moeller Jewelers.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
CIM is closed for Spring Break.
Sunday, April 9
Getting back to their roots at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance before the founding of their award-winning band, The Outside Track, CIM's own
Norah Rendell (vocals, flute & whistle) and Ailie Robertson (harp) are reuniting for a rare duo performance featuring songs, tunes, original and traditional compositions from Ireland and Scotland. 7:00 pm at the Celtic Junction. $12/$16 or $5 for students.
April 21-29
Saturday, April 22
Celebrate the opening of the Eoin McKiernan Library at this grand opening event and Irish Arts Week Welcome Reception! Speakers include:
Ragnar Almqvist, Vice Consul General, Chicago Consulate;
Deirdre McKiernan, author and daughter of Eoin McKiernan;
Natalie O'Shea, Executive Director of Celtic Junction Arts Center;
Brian Miller, Director, Eoin McKiernan Library. Free and open to the public.
6:00 pm at the Celtic Junction.
Friday, April 28
Dance the night away at this Ceili fundraiser to send the Pig's Eye Ceili Band to compete in the Fleadh Cheoil! The band includes CIM instructors Mattie Ernst, Charlie Heymann, Chad McAnally, John McCormick, and Mary Vanorny. A $10 donation is requested at the door. 7:30 - 9:30 pm at the Celtic Junction.
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NEW Irish Trad Releases
A monthly column listing newly released CDs
that might be of interest to our students.
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Irish Concertina 3
By Noel Hill
Recorded live in New York.
"Through his dedication, talent, and artistry, Noel produces one of the most powerful and beautiful expressions of our culture I know."
- Tony McMahon
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Have you had a chance to
experience CIM's
Brew a cup of tea, turn up the volume and enjoy this delightful tune-filled report with videos, photos, and stories about our year.
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SUPPORT CIM AS YOU SHOP ON-LINE
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Amazon Smile - Set up your Amazon Smile account to benefit the Center for Irish Music, then use this link every time you shop. Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to CIM.
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Shutterfly - Shop for photos, cards, invitations, and more and CIM receives 13% of your purchase price.
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Thank you in advance for remembering CIM as you do your online shopping!
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Find CIM on Social Media
Connect with us!
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This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the
arts and cultural
heritage fund.
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836 Prior Avenue North
● St. Paul, MN 55014 ● 651-815-0083
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