ARIZONA IRISH MUSIC
SOCIETY
AIMS NEWS AND NOTES
1-6-2010
AIMS News and Notes 1-6-2010
Arizona Irish Music Society
Information Line: 602-770-8077
Signup - azirishmusic@ yahoo.com
George L. O’Brien - azirishmusic@ yahoo.com
News -azirishmusic@ yahoo.com
Anyone interested in receiving the Directory/Calendar only version of this
newsletter should e-mail us at azirishmusic @yahoo..com. You will be able to
read the entire newsletter on the web at www.azirishmusic.com/00000000.htm. The
Expanded Irish Cultural Center Gift Shop run by Pat McCrossan, the former
proprietors of Ireland's Own, is now open from 10:30 am until 6 pm Tuesday
through Friday and from 10:30 am until 3 pm on Saturday. It will also be open
for any ICC special events. Come and browse through our extensive inventory.
Everything from crystal, pewter, Belleek, Claddagh rings in gold and silver,
Celtic jewelry, teas, candies, cookies, videos, DVDs, CDs, books, music and much
more. Call (602) 254-6094.
The Irish Cultural Center
is at 1106 N.
Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85004 602-258-0109
www.azirish.org
--- Celtica! Continues Auditions On
Tue, Jan 12
--- Scholarships Still Available For
Next Term
--- IFA Meeting On
Wed
--- Lis Doon Varna Seisiun
Returns
2. Fingal
At ICC On Fri Jan 15
3. Soloist Cara O'Sullivan At Kerr Center On Fri Feb
12
4. Band Of
The Irish Guards Saturday, February 27 At Symphony
Hall
5.
Contradance News
6. Irish
Language Class Begins Jan 12
7. Memo
From Round The House
8. Note
From The Knockabouts
9. Welsh Classes Will Resume On Tuesday,
January 12th, 2010
10
[Quetradaccord] Commando Trad
11.Yonatan Miller Featured At
"After Shabbat In Eilat" Sat Jan 9
12.2010 Nollaig Bheag (Little Christmas)
Celebration
13 This Week In Irish
Music
--- CELTICA! CONTINUES AUDITIONS ON
TUE, JAN 12
Celtica! Is the name of the new Celtic choral group that
will rehearse at the Irish Cultural Center. Inspired in part by the group Anúna,
http://www.anuna.ie/, Celtica! promises to become a significant part of the
Arizona Irish music scene.
For more information, e-mail
celticachorale@gmail.com.
--- SCHOLARSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE
FOR NEXT TERM
Classes start on Mon, Jan 11.
Hey Students, Please apply for the scholarships that have
been set up. The Marquardt Scholarship will award one worth $50 towards
your lessons, and the Patty Boyle McCrossan Scholarship will award two worth
$100 each towards your lessons. Contact Pat McCrossan for more details.
602-258-0109.
Pat
--- IFA MEETING ON
WED
The Irish Foundation of Arizona will meet on Wednesday, 6
Jan 10, at The Irish Cultural Center, 1106 N. Central Ave., Phoenix at 7:00
P.M. There will be a short business
meeting, followed by a fun-filled episode of Ballykissangel (an Irish television
program filmed in Avoca, in the Wicklow area). We hope to see you!
--- LIS DOON VARNA SEISIUN
RETURNS
The seisiun at Lis Doon Varna Returns on Wed
2. FINGAL AT ICC ON FRI JAN 15
Fo
ur
Peaks Irish Arts and The Irish Cultural and Learning Foundatiopn will be presenting
Fingal in concert. Fingal is the name of an exciting new trio in the world of
Irish music. Its members are well known and respected worldwide for their musicianship
and commitment to the roots of the Irish tradition. These are master musicians
who know how to deliver the passion and power of this ancient music in the here
and now. FINGAL will be performing in Arizona on Friday,
January 15, 2010 at 8:00 PM at the Irish Cultural Center located
at 1106 North Central Avenue in downtown Phoenix Admission is $20 in advance*
or $22 at the door. * FPIA members and Academy students receive a $2
discount. For more information, or to reserve your tickets, please contact a
Four Peaks Irish Arts officer at:
info@fourpeaksirisharts.org or
(512) 917-0279 . We look forward to seeing you there
Band Biography:
The world of Irish traditional music is in some ways like
the jazz world - there are certain musicians known to insiders as the "real
thing", the genuine creative artists of the music. These players often combine
and recombine in new groups, searching for fresh inspiration. It's safe to say
that the members of Fingal would fall into that category, and the fact that
they've formed a touring group has got the trad music world abuzz.
Singer and guitarist
Daithi Sproule has been a member of the band Altan for many years;
Randal Bays made
two seminal recordings with fiddler Martin Hayes plus a string of highly acclaimed
solo releases;
James Keane was
a founding member of the great Castle Ceili Band in Ireland and is among the
truly legendary figures in Irish music.
Although this trio was formed only a few years ago, Fingal's
musical connections go deep and wide. They’re playing exactly the music they
want to play, and the result is a powerhouse of a trad group that knows how
to deliver the full voltage of the Irish music tradition.
DISCOGRAPHY
"Fingal" - 2008 New Folk Records 
For further information, please call (602)
258-0109 or check www.azirish.org
(The Irish Cultural Center, The Heart Of
The Celtic Community, is a Division of the Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation
a 501 c (3) Not For Profit Corporation, and is owned and maintained by the City
Of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department.)
I'm really sad that I will be on my way out
of the country that night. These guys are great. Here's a Youtube link, but
I don't think it does them justice - the sound balance on the recording is kind
of off, so you don't really hear the fiddle or guitar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_oLc98uZ_8
Word has it that they're planning to stick around for a session after the concert
- I sure wish I could be there. Enjoy it, y'all!
Tom
3. SOLOIST CARA
O'SULLIVAN AT KERR CENTER ON FRI FEB 12
The internationally renowned Irish soprano
Cara O'Sullivan "the Irish Superstar of her generation" (The Irish Times)
To arrange an interview contact: Margaret
O’Carroll | info@kerryrecords.com | 818.784.3805
http://www.kerryrecords.com/artist_cara.html
BIOGRAPHY
Cork-born Cara O'Sullivan is an artist with an impeccable
operatic pedigree who has risen to prominence as one of Ireland's leading sopranos.
She is an instinctive performer with a remarkably full voice, exciting and dramatic,
yet always performs with great sensitivity. She has shown herself to be a fearless
vocal artist, whether singing Mozart, Verdi, Donizetti, or Puccini. In demand
for Opera, oratorio, and song recitals, she is kept busy year-round and across
the globe.
Cara's concert career and operatic engagements have taken her all over the world.
Spanning an impressive and wide-ranging repertoire, she has been referred to
as "The Irish Superstar of her generation" by The Irish Times. The Cincinnati,
Ohio press enthused: "Cara O'Sullivan dominated her scenes with a voice of steele
and sparkle, and practically pulls you from your seat!"
Cara's debut CD, CARADIVA, has raised over € 250,000 for her favourite charity,
Marymount Hospice in Cork. Cara will sing the great songs of Ireland as well
as some of opera's most loved arias in a wonderful, romantic celebration of
St. Valentine's Day! ...The Last Rose of Summer, Sweet Vale of Avoca, Believe
Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms, My Lagan Love, The Lark in the Clear
Air & of course, Danny Boy! Selections from La Traviata, Romeo & Juliette,
Puccini's Tosca, Lehar's Merry Widow, Novello Balfe, Moore, Lloyd-Webber...Accompanied by Aidan O'Carroll: widely known in Ireland as a composer,
arranger, conductor and accompanist. He
is a founding member of the world famous National Folk Theatre of Ireland and
has served on the board of The Arts Council of Ireland. In 2007, Aidan O'Carroll was invited to
perform at a St. Patrick's Day lunch hosted by the Irish senators for President
George Bush on Capitol Hill.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Friday, February 12th, 2010 - 7:30PM
Kerr Cultural Center
6110 North Scottsdale Road
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
Presented by Kerry Records LLC
info@kerryrecords.com
www.kerryrecords.com
(818) 784-3805
4. Band of the Irish
Guards Saturday, February 27 aT Symphony Hall
Band of the Irish Guards, -
Major S.C. Barnwell, Director of Music
Symphony Hall
Time: 8:00 PM
Featuring the Pipes, Drums, Highland Dancers of the Royal Regiment of Scotland
The Band of the Irish Guards was formed on April 1, 1900 on
the expressed wish of Her Majesty Queen Victoria to commemorate the bravery
of the many Irish Regiments who had fought in the South African campaigns.
In 2010, this premiere military band makes its debut tour of the United States
of America,
with Phoenix as one of its first stops. This will be an unprecedented spectacle
of pomp and circumstance, with over eighty five performers incorporating centuries
of musical ceremonial tradition from The Mounting of the Queen’s Guard at
Buckingham Palace to Trooping the Color. The evening will conclude with an
Irish sing-along and will be an event to be remembered for a lifetime!
Please note, The Phoenix Symphony does not perform on this
concert.
This concert is part of the Target World Music Festival.
Symphony Hall
225 E Adams St
Phoenix,AZ85004-2332
(602) 262-6225
5. CONTRADANCE
NEWS
PRESCOTT: The regular January
2010 Prescott contra dance will be Friday, January 8, with the same caller/band
and the same location. Introductory lesson from 7:30 to 8 and dance from 8 to
10:30. Cost $7 general admission, $5 members FolkHappens! or other contra dance
organizations, teachers, and students, $3 teachers and students who are also
members. Call 925-5210 for further info or visit
www.folkhappens.org
PHOENIX: There will be a contradance at the Kenilworth
School on Saturday, Jan 9.
6. IRISH LANGUAGE CLASS
BEGINS JAN 12
Vicki invited you to "Irish Language Classes" on Tuesday,
January 12 at 6:30pm.
Event: Irish Language ClassesStart Time: Tuesday, January 12 at
6:30pm End Time: Tuesday, January 12 at 9:30pm
Where: Irish Cultural Center, 1106 N.
Central Avenue, 602-258-0109
Vicki
7. MEMO FROM ROUND THE
HOUSE
Claire invited you to "Round the House Show" on Thursday,
January 7 at 7:00pm.
Event: Round the House Show
What: Performance
Start Time: Thursday, January 7 at
7:00pm
End Time: Thursday, January 7 at 10:00pm
Where: Auld Dubliner -
Tucson, 800 East University, Tucson, AZ
Claire Zucker
8. NOTE FROM THE
KNOCKABOUTS
Hi George,
The Knockabouts will be spreading New Year cheer at Rosie's
on January 8 & 9. It's been a while since we have been there and are looking
forward to a great time.
Thanks
John
9. WELSH CLASSES WILL RESUME
ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 12TH, 2010
There are a few changes that I would like to bring to your attention.
All classes will b
e free.
Distance learning will be possible
through the Internet (Skype or the like. More info. to come). [Swsi, galwch
fi! 602-509-5223]
I will need to know (by e-mail) in advance who
intends to attend/connect. Late comers will be accepted but the course will
progress week by week and revision will be the responsibility of the individual.
I will help in this.
The approach to especially the beginning class
will be new and follow along the lines of “Say Something Welsh”
(http://www.saysomethinginwelsh.com/home/),
which I have found to be the best and easiest way to start speaking and understanding
the language. No pens and paper or text books will be needed. this is an oral
course that anyone can follow! All levels are welcome to join in.
The intermediate/advanced class will continue
with an emphasis on conversation, building confidence and fluency by listening
and watching Welsh language media, then discussing what we have gleaned from
the experience.
Once a month we'll have a class "pub night" where people can meet and converse/listen
in Welsh in a relaxed atmosphere. This has proved very successful in the past,
the class room being left miles behind.
Points of grammar will be addressed as they
occur in the material.
Beginning class at 6:00pm. Advanced /intermediate
at 7:00pm.
I would love to see all previous students return and give it another go and
there's plenty of room for new people. The language is really the jewel in the
Welsh crown; a point of pride; a vehicle
for great literature; a unique strength and the glue that holds together that
rag-tag band of latter-day Celts who have faced a 2,000 year geographical, political
and cultural siege that, against all odds, only strong hearts have prevented
from succeeding. Come on, stand up and be counted: Ry'n ni yma o hyd....We are still here!
P.S. Kate, Swsi, George will you post this on the web site(s) and mail
it out to the list please. Diolch.
John Good/Sioni Dda (M.Mus. Caerdydd)/Oceans Apart
LLywydd Cynghrair Cymreig Arizona/
President Welsh League of Arizona
13001 West Pershing Court,
El Mirage, AZ 85335
Hm: 623-939-0209
Cel: 602-509-5223
Fax: 623-322-8486
www.tramormusic.com
www.youtube.com/oceansapartmusic
10 [QUETRADACCORD] COMMANDO TRAD
Forward
by Leonard Rheaume
Genius... love it !! The idea is to
demonstrate to the average joe on the street that traditional music is alive and
well (supplemental note: even among youth). Reading a comment or two on this
youtube page, the average joe continues to associate trad'l Québécois music only
with the holidays up there in Québec. Not so, not so !!
[EDITOR’S NOTE: QueTradAccord is the name for
the Canadian traditional accordion players groups on Yahoo, Facebook
etc.]
11. YONATAN
MILLER FEATURED AT "AFTER SHABBAT IN EILAT" SAT JAN 9
ALLIANCE4ISRAEL INVITES YOU
TO "AFTER SHABBAT IN EILAT" 
On January 9, 2010 At 8:00pm
at the Valley
Of The Sun JCC
12701 N. Scottsdale
Road
Join us for a wonderful and memorable event,
giving you just "a taste of Israel."
Live music with Yonatan Miller.
Brian Herman performing magic, juggling, and
balloons.
Authentic Israeli kosher Street Fair food
catered by Levi Catering.
Israeli souvenirs.
Wear your favorite beach attire!
Make your reservations soon, as the deadline
is December 28th. No admission at the door.
No exceptions!
Admission fee:
$36/person
Member
fee: $28/person
Reserve a group
of 10: $280.00
Call the JCC Welcome Desk for
reservations: 480 483-7121 x1230 CODE: JCCAFI 5
Feel free to call with any questions, Steve
Rosenbaum 480 216-4280
or
Carol Talmon 602 265-2251.
12. 2010 NOLLAIG BHEAG (LITTLE CHRISTMAS)
CELEBRATION
To get
everyone in the Irish Spirit, building up to the 23nd Annual Tucson
St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival, many special events and activities are
being planned. In addition to
celebrating the Irish culture and Heritage these events help fund the St
Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival.
Please join us.
Friday - January 8, 2010
6-10pm - $10.00
admission
Hotel Congress - Copper
Hall
311
East Congress Street
Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 622-8848