August 2024 Newsletter

Summer greetings from the Center for Irish Music!

August is a busy and exciting month for CIM. Our students are preparing for performances at the Irish Fair of Minnesota, while staff are planning for our Open House and Fall classes. We are also saying bon voyage to nine of our students who are traveling to Wexford to compete at the All-Ireland Fleadh with CIM instructor, Brian Miller.

Irish Fair of Minnesota is always a wonderful time, but this year there will be a particularly special moment for CIM. We are very proud to share the news that our Executive Artistic Director, Norah Rendell, has been chosen as the 2024 Irish Fair of Minnesota Curtin-Conway Award Winner for demonstrating a long-term commitment to serving and supporting the Irish cultural community in Minnesota.

The Irish Fair nomination noted (and we wholeheartedly agree), that "Norah’s exceptional talent, leadership, and dedication have forever impacted the Irish music community in Minnesota." The Award will be presented to Norah during the Irish Fair's opening ceremony on Saturday, August 10th at noon at the Main Stage. We would love it if as many CIM families and friends as possible could be there!

I'd also like to thank everyone who attended one of our story-sharing events as part of our Many Paths to Handing Down a Tradition initiative. Please check out some of these inspiring stories on our website (https://www.centerforirishmusic.org/news/cim-stories/).

Finally, we are also growing our board of directors and looking for expertise in development, fundraising, nonprofit HR, finance, nonprofit management and education.

If you are interested in serving this wonderful organization, please reach out to Norah or myself.

I look forward to seeing you soon,

Dave McKenna

Board Chair

Center for Irish Music

FALL TERM REGISTRATION OPENS SOON

Registration will be open soon for Fall Term private lessons and group classes at the Center for Irish Music. Watch your inbox for our latest course catalog, filled with brand new classes and old favorites!

FALL DATES & DEADLINES:

August 15th: Financial Aid application deadline for Fall Term
August 19th: Registration deadline for returning students to keep private lesson times for Fall Term. Current private lesson students, please submit a Pre-Registration form for each returning CIM student in your household.
August 23rd: Registration Deadline for Group Classes & Family Discount
Fall Term runs from September 3rd through January 26th.

LEARN MORE

JOIN US AT THE IRISH FAIR OF MINNESOTA!

AUGUST 9-11, 2024

CIM PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Join us at the Irish Fair of Minnesota, happening August 9-11th on beautiful Harriet Island in St. Paul!

Our students and instructors will be performing throughout the weekend Click here for the current performance schedule.

If you have little ones, join us for our Irish Instrument Petting Zoos, happening Saturday from 1-1:30pm and Sunday from 2:30-3pm in the Pavillion.

Don't forget to stop by our information booth in the Marketplace and say hello!

For tickets and a full schedule of Irish Fair performances and events, visit the Irish Fair website.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE CIM INFO BOOTH

We're still in need of volunteers to help with our Irish Fair information booth! This is a great way to share your enthusiasm for traditional Irish music.

No experience necessary!
Families are welcome!
Instruments welcome (so go ahead and play a few tunes at the booth)!

**Volunteer for 2 or more shifts on the same day and receive FREE admission to the fair that day!**

Contact Aja McCullough with questions.

YOU'RE INVITED TO OUR ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE

AUGUST 25, 2:00-4:30 PM

Join us for the Center for Irish Music's annual Open House, where you can:

Hear a performance from our youth ensemble students
Register for fall classes
Participate in a class or instrument demo
Join in a traditional Irish session
Meet CIM instructors and staff

... and more!

Watch your email for updates on demo schedules, coming soon.

LEARN MORE

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

We're looking for a few volunteers to help greet and direct guests, lead our traditional Irish session, and clean up after the event. Learn more and sign up to volunteer here.

MANY PATHS TO HANDING DOWN THE TRADITION: DÁITHÍ SPROULE'S STORY

CIM is truly lucky to have many teachers who dedicate their lives to the love of Irish music, and the mastery of their instruments. One of them is Dáithí Sproule, a deeply respected teacher and musician in the Irish music scene, credited by many as the inspiration for DADGAD guitar playing in Irish music. Dáithí also loves the fiddle. Many students and musicians enjoy his classes, deep curiosity for the tradition, and a lifelong dedication to learning. We are delighted to bring his story to you...

SAVE THE DATE: 20TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

OCTOBER 6, 3:30-5:30PM

The Center for Irish Music invites you to join us in celebrating 20 years of handing down the tradition!

Watch your inbox for more information, coming soon. Students and instructors will be celebrating in class during the week of September 30th.

UPCOMING CIM & COMMUNITY EVENTS

Parentheses indicate CIM instructors, students or staff members performing with a group

AUGUST 3-11

All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil

Wexford, Ireland

SATURDAY-SUNDAY, AUGUST 3-4

Hannah Flowers

Iowa Irish Fest

FRIDAY-AUGUST 7 | 7:00 PM

Altan (Dáithí Sproule)

Alberta Rose Theatre, Portland, OR

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, AUGUST 9-11

Irish Fair of Minnesota. Click here for a schedule of CIM performances.

Harriet Island, St. Paul

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, AUGUST 9-10

Altan (Dáithí Sproule)

Montana Irish Festival, Butte, MT

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, AUGUST 9-10

Hannah Flowers

Irish Fest La Crosse

AUGUST 15

CIM financial aid deadline for Fall Term

AUGUST 18-24

CIM make-up week for Summer Term

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23 | 6:30-8:00 PM

Morcava (Carmen Pasquerella, Ava Sackaroff, Morien McBurnie)

Ginkgo Coffeehouse

FRIDAY-SATURDAY, AUGUST 23-24

Hannah Flowers

Peoria Irish Fest

This is not an exhaustive listing of all events in the Twin Cities Irish community. For more listings, visit the IAM Event Calendar and the Celtic Junction Arts Center (CJAC). CJAC concerts are free for ages 18 and under.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE CIM!

The Center for Irish Music is a 501c3 nonprofit, and we depend on your support to continue passing down the tradition of Irish music and song. Please consider joining us as a volunteer or making a gift to the CIM today!