May 2025 Newsletter

Dear Center for Irish Music supporters,

Happy Bealtaine, the first of May! We are looking forward to the 17th annual Minnesota Irish Music Weekend at the Celtic Junction Arts Center, June 5-8, when we will host eight visiting artists for workshops, lectures, concerts, and sessions. The early bird deadline for workshop registration and merchandise orders is on May 11th, so register now and reserve your concert tickets early. We expect the Sunday evening concert featuring Mary MacNamara and Sorcha Costello to sell out.

49 CIM students and eight of our instructors returned from the Midwest Fleadh in Chicago this pasts weekend, bringing with them medals in solo, duet, trio and group competitions. We are very proud of the musicianship and community-mindedness that our students, instructors, and families displayed throughout the weekend. Thanks to our instructors who prepared our students through countless hours of teaching and arranging, and to the parents and families for their steadfast support.

Enjoy your gardens and your tunes, and I hope to see you at Adrienne O'Shea's concert tomorrow evening at the Junction!

Norah Rendell

Executive Artistic Director

Center for Irish Music

CONGRATULATIONS

TO ALL OUR 2025

MIDWEST FLEADH COMPETITORS!

Congratulations to the 49 competitors, both youth and adults, who traveled to Chicago for the 2025 Midwest Fleadh Cheoil, hosted by the Institute for Traditional Irish Music from April 25-27th. Students were joined by CIM instructors Hannah Flowers, Mattie Ernst, Todd Menton, Brian Miller, Carmen Pasquerella, Norah Rendell, Mary Vanorny and Kate Wade, as well as countless family members who were there to show their support. Congratulations to everyone who competed!

Join us for the 17th annual Minnesota Irish Music Weekend, presented by the Center for Irish Music!

This unique festival pairs world-class traditional Irish musicians and teachers with learners of all ages for a weekend of workshops, lectures, sessions and concerts.

Each of our visiting artists is recognized for their musical mastery, and will offer insights and techniques to help learners tap into the deep roots of traditional Irish music.

Irish Trad Immersion Camp I

(Ages 8-11)

Irish Trad Immersion Camp II

(Ages 10-13)

Intermediate/Advanced Teen Program (Ages 12-19)

Adult Workshops, Interviews & Lectures

(Ages 18+)

SPRING TERM RECITALS

CIM's Spring Term Recitals and Adult Student Open Mic are coming up soon in the Celtic Junction Arts Center's Main Performance Studio.

FRIDAY, MAY 16

7:00-9:00pm - Adult Student Open Mic

SATURDAY, MAY 17

2:00-3:00 pm - Spring Youth Recital 1

3:30-4:30 pm - Spring Youth Recital 2

SUNDAY, MAY 18

12:30-1:30 pm - Spring Youth Recital 3

2:00-3:00 pm - Spring Youth Recital 4

3:30-4:30 pm - Spring Youth Recital 5

Visit the Recitals Page

CENTER FOR IRISH MUSIC SUMMER CAMPS

Summer is a great time to explore a new extra-curricular activity! The Center for Irish Music has several summer offerings for children going into grades 1-6. These camps are open to all, whether you play an Irish or non-Irish instrument (or no instrument at all)!

Check out the Youth Summer Camps page on our registration website for details and contact admin@centerforirishmusic.org with questions regarding programming or placement.

INTRO TO IRISH HARP

with Hannah Flowers

July 7-11

Monday-Friday

9:30 am-12:30 pm

IRISH MUSIC & ARTS CAMP

with Adrienne O'Shea

July 21-25

Monday-Friday

9:30 am-12:30 pm

IRISH FIDDLE FOR VIOLINISTS

with Mary Vanorny

and Rosa Wells

July 7-11

Monday-Friday

9:30 am-12:30 pm

SUMMER REGISTRATION OPENS THIS MONDAY

It's almost time to register for Summer Term!

You'll receive a Course Catalog email with links to register for group classes, ensembles, and private lessons on Monday, May 5th.

SAVE THE DATE FOR ÉIGSE 2026

February 28, 2026

Éigse [eg-shuh] is an Irish word used for festivals celebrating traditional Irish arts and culture. It is in this spirit that we gather annually to raise funds for The Center for Irish Music, Minnesota's only traditional Irish music school,

dedicated to handing down the tradition.

You can find more details on our website.

UPCOMING CIM & COMMUNITY EVENTS

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

FRIDAY, MAY 2

Adrienne O’Shea in Concert

Celtic Junction Arts Center

SATURDAY, MAY 10

From Ireland to the Northwoods: Danny Diamond and Brian Miller in Concert

Doors @7:00, show 7:30-11pm

Sweeney Todd’s

SUNDAY, MAY 11

Early Bird Registration & Financial Aid Deadline for MN Irish Music Weekend

THURSDAY, MAY 15

Financial Aid deadline for CIM Summer Term

FRIDAY, MAY 16 | 7:00 PM

Spring Adult Student Open Mic

Center for Irish Music

SATURDAY, MAY 17 | 2:00 & 3:30 PM

Spring Youth Recitals

Center for Irish Music

SATURDAY, MAY 17

Community Meeting: Shape the Future of the Celtic Junction

Celtic Junction Arts Center

SUNDAY, MAY 18 |

12:30, 2:00, & 3:30 PM

Spring Youth Recitals

Center for Irish Music

FRIDAY, MAY 30 | 11:40 AM

SATURDAY, MAY 31 | 9:50 AM

Two Tap Trio (Norah Rendell, Brian Miller, Mary Vanorny)

Flint Hills Family Festival (Rice Park)

FRIDAY, MAY 30 | 4:00-10:00 PM

Breizh Fest

The BreTones (Tom Klein, Laura MacKenzie, Bob Walser)

Breizh Fest, Minneapolis Cider Co., Mpls.

FRIDAY, MAY 30, 7:30 PM

Reverie Road In Concert

Celtic Junction Arts Center

JUNE 5-8

Minnesota Irish Music Weekend

Center for Irish Music

SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 7:00-9:30 PM

Fortune, My Foe! Merry Music for Trying Times

Celtic Junction Arts Center

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!