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Dear CIM friends and supporters,
As summer winds down, there is a lot of energy building up here as we gear up for another Fall term of teaching, sharing, and enjoying traditional Irish music together!
Fall term lessons and ensembles kick off next Tuesday, September 8th.
It’s not too late to register for Fall term classes and lessons with our fabulous instructors... we have many classes starting up in September and October, several of which are brand new! Check out our featured offerings below.
We are looking forward to hosting East Clare fiddler (and 2025 MIM artist) Sorcha Costello for a week-long residency coming up October 14-20th. Workshop registration is live, and concert tickets are for sale!
We had a very successful Open House on August 30th, enjoying the company of new friends and old, and sharing what we do here through class demos, a traditional Irish session, instrument petting zoo, and more. Thanks to all the instructors, staff, and volunteers who helped put it on.
I look forward to seeing you out and about, hopefully at Seán Gavin & Colm Gannon's concert next Friday!
Norah Rendell
Executive Artistic Director
Center for Irish Music
| | WELCOMING NEW INSTRUCTORS | | | | |
MOLLY HILDRETH - CONCERTINA
Molly Hildreth is a concertina, flute, and whistle player with a background in both traditional Irish and classical music. She began studying classical flute as a child, and first started playing Irish music on the flute at age 12 as a member of the Atlanta Junior Ceili Band. Now primarily focused on traditional Irish music, Molly picked up the anglo concertina as an adult and plays regularly at local sessions on flute and concertina. Molly holds a BA in music and English from Carleton College.
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IAN MCKENNA - C#/D BUTTON ACCORDION
Ian McKenna was born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and learned his music from John McCormick and various players in Ireland. His album Star of the North, with Joe De Georgeo (fiddle) and Brian Miller, was released in 2022 to critical acclaim and has been played on radio stations across Ireland and North America. Ian started learning Irish music at the age of seven years old, taking classes at the Center For Irish Music. He holds many Midwest Fleadh titles on accordion, and a 3rd place All-Ireland medal in duos.
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FEATURED ADULT FALL CLASSES
WITH ROOM FOR YOU!
| | A FEW MORE SPOTS OPEN IN OUR KIDS CLASSES! | | | | |
Join instructor Alisa Mee for an 8-week session of interactive classes filled with rhymes, finger plays, songs and dancing! These classes are designed to introduce children and their families to traditional Irish music.
CELTIC CUTIES
Ages 6 months-5 years
SINGING SWEETIES
Ages 4-7 years
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SORCHA COSTELLO - ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
OCTOBER 14-20TH
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Throughout Sorcha’s residency, students, teachers, and the wider community will have unique opportunities to learn from her through workshops, classes, sessions, and performances.
10/16: IN CONCERT W/ BRIAN MILLER
10/15-17: WORKSHOPS & LECTURE
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WITNESSING AN HISTORIC
ALL-IRELAND FLEADH IN BELFAST
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For the Fleadh this year, six CIM students traveled with family and friends to Belfast to attend a week at Scoil Éigse and take in the Fleadh festivities together. Several members of CIM’s long-running adult ensemble, An Luan, attended the adult mixed-instrument class and had a great time performing with almost 500 other summer-school attendees, despite most of them being under five feet tall and not of legal drinking age!
An estimated 1.6 million people visited over the course of the week-long festival, doubling the 800,000 visitors anticipated and surpassing everyone’s expectations.
| | | WE'RE RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS! | | | | |
Do you have time to help CIM out? We rely on an amazing team of volunteers to plan and execute our recitals, concerts, and big events like Éigse, A Musical Gaela (Feb. 27, 2027) and Minnesota Irish Music Weekend (June 10-14, 2027).
If you're a great photographer, love planning events, have a passion for hospitality and food service, or want to pitch in for an hour or two, we'd love to hear from you.
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UPCOMING CIM & COMMUNITY EVENTS
Parentheses indicate CIM instructors, students or staff members performing with a group
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FEATURED EVENT:
Sean Gavin & Colm Gannon
in Concert
Friday, September 11, 7:30 pm
Celtic Junction Arts Center
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
First day of Fall term
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 3:00-4:00 PM
Music in the Chapel: Dòrain (Mattie Ernst, Iain Dove McAfee)
Lakewood Cemetery
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 10 AM-12 PM
An Luan Adult Ensemble
Claddagh Coffee
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 3:00-5:00 PM
Pick, Buttons and Bow (Beth B, Teddy B, and Collin F)
Dock and Paddle, Como Park Pavilion
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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!
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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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