CELTIC-IRISH ALTERNATIVE STRINGS

SUMMER JAM ‘08

 

Calling all violin, viola, cello, bass, acoustic guitar and mandolin players!  Come explore Celtic Music this summer with the Western Kansas String Academy.  Open to musicians of all ages and most abilities!  The program includes the following activities:

 

Weekly Sessions—June 3rd-August 12th

On Tuesday mornings throughout the summer, we’ll gather to learn tunes from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, Wales and other Celtic lands. Celtic enthusiast Shawn Demuth will lead sessions, with the assistance of other WKSA staff members.  Shawn plays fiddle, mandolin, guitar, piano, bodhran, tin whistle, the bones, and has performed with a variety of area bands, including Trip Fire and the Blaine Younger Band.

 

Workshop with Marianne Payette Carter

 of the Celtic-Irish band Rowan—July 29th

Learn from a master!  Marianne's Midwest roots and her travels to Bali, Newfoundland, Morocco, Ireland, North Africa, and India give her music a unique perspective and a lively world beat. An accomplished solo artist, she performs as a singer/songwriter and as "Matty Striker" at the KC Renaissance Festival. Recently, through a research grant and the "Paretsky Award for Creativity" from the University of Kansas, Marianne was able to study the rich musical traditions of Britanny, the Celtic region of France. She is a past winner of the Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championship's vocal division and Kaw Valley Songwriters competition. She has released two solo CDs of Celtic music and performs fiddle, guitar, bodhran and vocals with Rowan, as well as teaching at “Prairie Music”, her studio in Lawrence.  Marianne will work with us in July to give our tunes and presentation an authentic Celtic style!

 

Summer Jam Sessions at Coffee Rules

Share what you’ve learned!  Join us as we play in local monthly jams at Coffee Rules.  Dates to be announced.

 

On Stage with Rowan!  August 22nd

In August, Marianne Payette Carter and her band Rowan return to Hays to perform as part of the Hays Arts Council’s Gallery Walk.  Summer participants in the Celtic-Irish summer jam will have the opportunity to join Marianne and friends on stage, performing combined pieces with Rowan!

 

Further details and excitement to come!  Contact Cathy Drabkin (cadrabkin@fhsu.edu; 785-628-5363) for more information or to receive a brochure (available mid-April).