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Dear students and supporters,
As I write this December letter, I’m filled with gratitude for this wonderful community that supports our local traditional Irish music scene. Thanks to every one of you who gives your time, talent, enthusiasm, and financial support to the Center for Irish Music’s mission.
On Give to the Max Day, we hosted a lovely session in the Scanlan Music Hall, which helped energize the day of fundraising. Thanks to more than 75 generous donors, we exceeded our $15,000 match, raising more than $35,000 for CIM in November!
This is truly an exciting time at the CIM —our expanded facilities inside the Celtic Junction Arts Center (that you helped us invest in) are providing new spaces for students to gather and learn. We are thrilled to have the capacity to offer new programs this year! From beginning fiddle lessons to Ceol agus Craic workshops; thought-provoking instructor gatherings to youth sessions at local establishments, we are exploring ways to reach out to new audiences, and engage with our existing community.
Our core programs of private lessons, group classes and ensembles continue to strengthen, thanks to our incredibly dedicated teaching artists and staff - and alumni. Sustainability of our mission is an integral part of the investment that we are all making at CIM. On that note, check out CIM’s 5-year plan, and be sure to take a moment to enjoy our 2024-25 Annual report.
Also, I’m happy to introduce CIM’s new Development Coordinator Pat McMorrow! Pat comes to CIM from the outskirts of the music community with an impressive track record in journalism, tech startups, financial services and nonprofits.
Finally, our big challenge in the next two months (other than hosting 6 recitals this weekend) is to fill the room at Éigse CIM, A Gaela Event on February 28th. Get your tickets today! We are looking for “ambassadors of CIM” who can help us to invite folks, and drum up enthusiasm so we can have a big celebration at the St. Paul Event Center.
If you are interested in helping as an ambassador, please send me an email (ideally by December 7th) and I’ll put you in touch with Pat. I already have a long list of people we think would be good at this job, so you may hear from us anyway!
Enjoy the snow, and the hot cocoa and tunes that follow!
With gratitude,
Norah Rendell
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