2020 North American Summer Un-Schools List

[Ken_Coles]

For years I kept and annually revised a static page here on C.net listing the concertina learning opportunities in North America. Since the switch to Forums I haven't completed this in most years, even though every winter I did look to see who was teaching classes and where and when and start to compile a document. It turns out a few of the usual offerings have on-line alternatives this year, so I thought, "Why not?" Here is what I have and I know all of you will add anything you know of. As ever in the US, a lot of this is for Irish on anglo, but there must be other stuff going on. I'll include placeholders for the events that happen most years but are not being held during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is short notice for some of these events - my apologies (it's been one of those years), but I hope we all find musical outlets of some sort.

 

I know there are many individual concerts/performances and tons of archived stuff online. Here I'm mostly focusing on learning opportunities (with a few arbitrary exceptions).

-- Ken

 

 

Augusta Heritage Center, Elkins, West Virginia
Augusta has not had an Irish Week or concertina instruction in a number of years, but they've posted a large number of online live events for July and lesson opportunities through August, for those with other musical ambitions. Augusta class schedule.

 

Virtual Catskills Irish Arts Week
Originally scheduled in person in mid-July, this event typically has classes for Irish style on anglo concertina at two or three levels; several C-netters have been on the staff in past years. For 2020 they are offering on-line master classes with Brenda Castles (Ireland, Int/Advanced level) and Tierna Rowsome (USA, Basic/Int). Info here.

 

Virtual Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy
OK, I know this isn't North American, but this is the event that gave me the idea for posting this list. Recordings of concerts and recitals from the 2019 edition of renowned summer school in County Clare, Ireland (typically in early July each year) are a nice diversion, and cover far more than just concertina. View the list of concerts. They give a number of ways to access the videos; I went to the YouTube channel ITMAVideos (search for ITMAVideos on the YouTube site). They also have video highlights of the previous several decades of concerts at the same link/YouTube channel.

 

Swannonoa Gathering, Asheville, North Carolina
During what would have been Celtic Week (that's as I post this) 13-17 July 2020, there are videos posted each day by instructors, including concertinist Grainne Hambly. These are taken down at the end of the week so don't put off checking it out at the Swannanoa Gathering  and the Staff Videos page.

 

Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School at Home
This event, typically in August in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has set up a large number of classes and lectures, which take place live online Sat. 8 August 2020 through Tues. 11 August. Among the offerings are a concertina Master class with Caitlín Nic Gabhann. More info here.

 

The Northeast Squeeze-In
NESI, as it has come to be known, was cancelled, but the tireless organizing committee have scheduled some substitutes while we all wait for 2021. On the original dates, 25-27 September 2020, you can join in the fun by submitting a video for the virtual concert by Sept. 10th, offer a prerecorded or live virtual workshop (proposals due Sept. 10th), or submitting an entry to the Limerick and Haiku contest (entries due Sept. 1st). They haven't posted the details on the web page so follow the directions there to join the discussion group on io groups and read all about it.

[David Colpitts]

As Ken said, the CIAW Virtual week started last night....It'll be open, once one registers, for 8 weeks.  I am enjoying it, though of course not as much as the in-person.  OTOH, I can watch and rewatch at my leisure, and the price is very reasonable, I feel, and goes to a great cause.

 

Thanks, Ken, for providing this great list!

 

David

[David Barnert]

15 hours ago, Ken_Coles said:

The Northeast Squeeze-In
NESI, as it has come to be known, was cancelled, but the tireless organizing committee have scheduled some substitutes while we all wait for 2021. On the original dates, 25-27 September 2020, you can join in the fun by submitting a video for the virtual concert by Sept. 10th, offer a prerecorded or live virtual workshop (proposals due Sept. 10th), or submitting an entry to the Limerick and Haiku contest (entries due Sept. 1st). They haven't posted the details on the web page so follow the directions there to join the discussion group on io groups and read all about it.

 

Here’s the information about NESI that was made available in late June. I seem to be the only one who has offered a workshop at this point. [Edited to add:] Thank you, David Colpitts for pushing me into it.

Announcing Virtual NESI 2020.pdf

Edited July 14, 2020 by David Barnert

[Breve]

Looks like O'Flaherty's Irish Music retreat will be held online this year. This is usually held at the end of October, Midlothian TX. Details: https://oflahertyretreat.org/

[Ken_Coles]

Thank you for that addition!

 

Ken