Dear Center for Irish Music supporters,
Greetings from my home office, where I have spent countless hours teaching, singing, writing and meeting since the Center for Irish Music transformed into a virtual music school on March 16th, the day before St. Patrick's Day.
Thanks to 22 resourceful instructors and an entire school of dedicated students, online Irish music teaching is going well. There is a surprising intimacy to delivering a lesson or group class from one living room to another. The opportunity to connect face-to-face with a teacher, student or classmate is invaluable during this time isolation.
The virtual forum asks a little more of both teacher and student and we have not been without our technological glitches. Challenges aside, here are just a few of the wonderful opportunities that have opened up at CIM during this crisis:
- Instructors are learning new techniques and meeting regularly to discuss approaches to teaching online.
- Ensembles are learning about music technology as they collaborate on audio & video recording projects.
- Past CIM students from Maine, Texas and Portland have registered for classes at CIM after moving away from the Twin Cities!
Also, it's fascinating to see our students learning that music has a function outside of entertainment. Music has the power to combat boredom, loneliness and grief. Playing music, and taking weekly lessons, provides a respite from the demands of daily life. Our spirits are lifted and we feel connected to something larger than ourselves.
All of this to say, I invite all of you, no matter where you are, to join us in learning Irish traditional music at home with CIM! This might be your summer for picking up that Irish instrument you've always wanted to learn, or for taking a group class with Dáithí Sproule, Todd Menton or Mary Vanorny.
If committing to a whole 10 weeks isn't your style, join us for MIM @ Home, a groundbreaking virtual traditional music festival presented by the CIM on June 11-14. Register by May 17th for discounts and read this newsletter for details.
Finally, keep an eye out for summer registration, and our spring drive to raise funds for students scholarships, both coming soon.
Norah Rendell
Executive Artistic Director
*CIM students: The "
students
" webpage is updated on a weekly basis. We request that current students bookmark this page and check in regularly to find out about upcoming dates, deadlines, events and student-related announcements. Thank you!
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Join us for virtual youth recitals and an online Adult Student Open Mic, open to the public. We can't wait to see what everyone has been working on this spring.
ADULT STUDENT OPEN MIC | MAY 8, 7-9 PM
There are still time slots available for performers. If you're an adult student who would like to sign up for the virtual open mic,
click here.
YOUTH RECITALS | MAY 10 & MAY 17, 12:00-6:00 PM
Links to view the recitals are available online at
http://centerforirishmusic.org/recitals. Please share these links with friends and family - the more the merrier! If your child is performing, you will receive a
personal link and instructions in your email from Hannah Carr-Murphy.
Check the
Students page of our website regularly for up-to-date student announcements.
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The Center for Irish Music is committed to making classes and lessons accessible for everyone in our community. Financial aid is available for Summer Term classes and Minnesota Irish Music Weekend at Home. Applications are due May 17th.
Please note that you must fill out a separate application form for MIM @ Home and Summer Term lessons and classes. Links for both are available below.
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Celtic Cuties is now open for registration, and the full lineup of summer classes will be available soon! All Summer Term classes and lessons will be held online.
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CELTIC CUTIES (AGES 0-4)
This summer, join Alisa and other families online via Zoom to learn a brand new collection of Celtic Cuties rhymes, finger plays, and songs at home! This class is a great way to introduce your little ones to Irish music and movement. The virtual classroom will be open for 10-15 minutes before class so you can meet new friends and catch up with Alisa.
Fridays, July 10-August 7 | 9:30-10:15 am | $63
Saturdays, July 11-August 8 | 9:30-10:15 am | $63
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REGISTER NOW FOR MIM @ HOME
Reduced rates and financial aid are available through May 17th
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Registration is now open for Minnesota Irish Music Weekend at Home!
MIM @ Home, presented by the Center for Irish Music, is a unique festival that pairs world-class traditional Irish musicians and teachers with learners of all ages for a weekend of workshops, lectures, a Great Session Experience, and 6 streaming concerts.
Reduced rates, financial aid, and t-shirt orders are available through May 17th.
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VIRTUAL IRISH TRAD IMMERSION CAMP
Friday & Saturday
ages 9-12
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INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED TEEN PROGRAM
Thursday & Friday
ages 12-19
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ADULT WORKSHOPS, LECTURES & INTERVIEWS
Saturday & Sunday
all ages!
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VIRTUAL CONCERTS & PUBLIC EVENTS
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Join us for 6 streaming concerts plus two public events featuring the MIM @ Home master artists.
Register online for your free concert pass, and
click here
to make a free-will donation to support the artists.
SATURDAY JUNE 6 - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10
MIM @ Home preview concerts with Pauline Conneely, Brian Ó hAirt, and the CIM Advanced Youth Ensemble.
THURSDAY, JUNE 11
Virtual MIM @ Home Opening Reception, featuring Benny McCarthy in concert, starting at 7:30pm.
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
Great Session Experiences
- 6:00pm-7:00pm - Junior Session, online via Zoom
- 7:00-8:00pm - Song session, led by Brian Miller via Zoom
- 7:30- 8:30pm - TUNES with sets led by visiting artists and local musicians
SATURDAY JUNE 13 - SUNDAY, JUNE 14
MIM @ Home live concerts with Conal Ó Gráda, Séan Gavin, Danny Diamond, Brian Miller, and Matt Cranitch.
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Thanks to the plant sale committee, Su Ann De Georgeo, Sarah Larsen, Christine Anderson and Jody Wenner (parents of the Advanced Youth Ensemble) for organizing the plant sale in support of the Center for Irish Music's Youth Travel Fund.
With your help, we raised $650 to send our students to the Midwest Fleadh.
We hope to host this fundraiser again in 2021, so mark your calendars and plan to purchase your plants from us again next year!
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VIRTUAL SESSIONS ALL OVER TOWN
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If you've been itching to play music with others, some groups are finding ways to gather online via Zoom, including the Keegan's Learners' Session and the Traditional Singers Club Song Session.
The Keegan's Learners Session (KLS) has transitioned to the Virtually Unstoppable KLS. Their weekly session is happening online every Sunday from 4:00pm-6:00pm. If you'd like to sign up, contact us directly and we'll send you the info.
The Traditional Singer's Club has decided to meet on a weekly basis during the COVID-19 crisis on Sunday afternoons from 3:00-5:00pm. To find out more, join their mailing list by sending an email to Shawn McBurnie at shawn@rumgumption.com. This weekend's session will be led by CIM board member, Dave Rhees.
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UPCOMING INSTRUCTOR PERFORMANCES
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MONDAY, MAY 11 | 7:00 PM
Norah Rendell, Brian Miller & Danielle Enblom
SATURDAY, MAY 16 | 3:00-4:00 PM
Adrienne O'Shea
SUNDAY, MAY 31 | 7:30 PM
Danny Diamond & Brian Miller
These concerts are free. Goodwill donations will be accepted during live during the performances. We will continue to share additional performances on our social media pages as they are announced.
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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 making a gift to the CIM today!
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Located inside the Celtic Junction, across from Blackstack Brewery & Can Can Wonderland
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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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