Don't Miss CeltFest 2009 Vancouver Island International Summer School and Concert Series
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SCOTLAND'S supergroup Old Blind Dogs will be conducting workshops and performing at CeltFest 2009 on Vancouver Island.
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NANAIMO - This year marks the ninth CeltFest Vancouver Island on Canada's "other" Celtic coast presented by Celtic Performing Arts.
Once again Celts and Celtic hearts from near and far are invited to join Islanders as they participate in a spectacular week of classes and concerts featuring some of the greatest Celtic musicians and dancers of our time.
Principal René Cusson says, "This is a wonderful opportunity to make new and renew old friendships, continue and grow Celtic traditions, and share and enjoy culture." This will be the second year that Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo will be home to the event.
At this beautifully landscaped and terraced university campus, the summer school (July 5-10) will continue to offer world-class instruction in Highland and uilleann piping, pipe band drumming, fiddling, guitar, bodhran, penny whistle and song courses - even an "alternative roots" percussion course for Celtic music.
There will also be Highland and Irish Dance, Cape Breton and Canadian step-dancing, along with afternoon classes in the social dances of Scotland and Ireland for everyone wishing to join in the fun.
Accommodation and meals at Vancouver Island University are offered at very reasonable rates.
The CeltFest committee, under the direction of Carolyn Phillips Cusson, is delighted to welcome, among other instructors and performers: Jonny Hardie, veteran fiddler with Old Blind Dogs, and the "Dogs" themselves - Scotland's legendary Trad band.
Both the Adult World Champion Irish and Highland dancers, Owen Barrington of the U.S., and David Wilton from Scotland - performing on the same stage together for the first time at the Sunset & Stars Gala on July 9, along with reigning World Champion Irish dancer Ashley Smith of Boston.
Champion Highland piper, Bob Worrall of Toronto; Juno Award winning fiddler Pierre Shryer and the renowned uilleann piper, Martin Nolan from Dublin; Qualicum's Emma Beaton - Canadian Folk Music Awards Winner. This is only a wee taste of the phenomenal Celtic talent coming to CeltFest.
This year's exciting performance and community events will include Old Blind Dogs in Concert at the VIU theatre on July 7; Ontario's renowned family music and dance sensation, The Ballagh Bunch featured in a Family Pub Night at VIU on July 8; and the stellar finale Sunset and Stars Gala Concert at Nanaimo's Port Theatre on July 9.
Of course, there will be additional fun at the daily social ceili(dh) dances, open to students and the public, and the CeltFestival Club will provide an open stage for students and faculty at the ceilidhs following each evening's ticketed events.
The ceilidhs are free to anyone holding tickets to the main events; otherwise nominal costs are noted on the website.
Early-bird rates apply to summer school until May 8. For more information, call 1-866-301-2358, or visit www.celtfest.ca. Visit the Port Theatre website for Sunset & Stars Gala or Old Blind Dogs concert tickets at www.porttheatre.com.
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