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NB Highland Games Entertainment Line-Up 2008
Matt Carter (Bouzouki)
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Brollachan (Celtic Group)
Brollachan is a group of four local, talented musicians whose mandate is to preserve and promote Celtic Culture through music. Each has a long standing career with excellent reputations provincially, nationally, and internationally. Prior to the band's formation they were involved in many of the various Celtic cultural activities here in Fredericton and beyond. So Brollachan is really a natural culmination of Fredericton's Celtic cultural community.
Visit their site at: http://www.kristatouesnard.ca/Index1.htm
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Katherine Moller (Fiddler)
A native of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Katherine completed a Bachelor of Music degree at McGill University where she performed with many ensembles including the McGill Symphony and the McGill Baroque Orchestra.
Since graduating she has had the opportunity to study baroque violin with members of Tafelmusik at the Scotia Festival of Music and the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute. A versatile musician and recipient of a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts she studied fiddling in Ireland during 2001-2002.
Katherine returned to Fredericton in 2002 and began teaching violin and fiddle. She has become active in the local music scene founding and directing the NB Fiddle Camp, the Fredericton Fiddle Orchestra, the York Early Music Ensemble, Moller Music, and co-founding the Fredericton Baroque Music Festival. She performs regularly with Symphony New Brunswick, the Atlantic Sinfonia, the Seasons Baroque Ensemble, a Celtic duo with guitarist Chris Mercer, and a six-piece Celtic Ensemble.
Katherine currently resides in Harvey, NB, and continues teaching violin and fiddle in both the Harvey and Fredericton areas.
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Stanford School of Irish Dance
The Stanford School of Irish Dance opened in September 2001 in Fredericton, New Brunswick. It is New Brunswick's first Irish Dance school registered officially with An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha in Dublin, Ireland. An Coimisiun serves to preserve the standards and quality of Irish Dance worldwide. Only the students of registered schools are eligible to attend any sanctioned competition. The Stanford School of Irish Dance will focus on encouraging all of its students to reach their full potential in this dynamic and exciting art form, through both solo and team dancing.
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Bottoms Up!
Bottoms Up! is a six-piece Celtic band that has been playing the Fredericton and New Brunswick music scene for the past 20 years. The band still features the original four members Roy Way on lead vocals and percussion, Dave Theriault, vocals and guitar, Bob Slaunwhite, vocals, guitar, and mandolin and Stuart Doucette, vocals, bass guitar and drums.
With the addition of Donnie Cormier on banjo and Erin Smith on fiddle; Bottoms Up creates a kitchen party atmosphere wherever they play. They encourage you to sing along and defy you to keep your toes from tapping as they sing the favourite tunes you know best, in four part harmony.
Visit their site: www.bottoms-up-band.com
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Celtique Aire
The friendship of Jane Ogilvie and Helen MÚrag McKinnon evolved into the duo known as Celtic Aire. They are actively involved in the production and performance of traditional music that is mainly Celtic, ancient and modern with other cultures being represented in their concerts. Growing up in a Gaelic - speaking and musical home, Helen brings to this partnership a unique insight into the sounds and conventions of traditional Scottish folklore. She also plays the tin whistle. Jane's instrumental background is extensive. Her formal training is with piano; however, she plays several other instruments including the accordion and the harp.
Jane's and Helen's friendship and musical association began when they were both performing with the New Brunswick folk group Oran. Don't miss this dynamic duo at the Silver Anniversary Concert, Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
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Mark Roberts (Songwriter)
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Fiddle Extravaganza (Violin Studio Group)
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Gaelstrumm (Celtic Group)
Gaelstrumm is an ensemble group, consisting of six talented and experienced musicians,
formed in 2007. The group performs traditional Celtic and folk tunes; as well as,
contemporary and original compositions. One unique characteristic of Gaelstrumm is that
the group able to perform in three languages- Gaelic, French and English.
Gaelstrumm performed several concerts in 2007, including the following venues: City of
Fredericton, Town of Oromocto, Village of Gagetown and Village of St. Martins in New
Brunswick. Members of the group continue to perform both individually and with other
musicians; however, they look forward to combining their talents, as Gaelstrumm, to expand
their boundaries, artistically and geographically.
The members of Gaelstrumm are:
Helen McKinnon on vocals and tin whistles.
Jane Ogilvie on vocals, harp, accordion and keyboard,
Katherine Moller on vocals and violin,
Ron Bagnell on vocals and guitar,
Robert Cassie on vocals, guitar and mandolin,
Robert Guthrie on vocals and percussion- bodhran, djembe, bongos and trap set.
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Helen McKinnon
Helen McKinnon is a native Gaelic speaker, born in GrandmŽre, Quebec, of a Scottish
mother (Isle of Lewis) and a New Brunswick father. The kids spoke only Gaelic until grade
one and it was Dad who taught them the old Gaelic songs, legends and poetry, while Mom
instilled dance and customs. As she grew, Helen was involved in all things Scottish - dance,
pipe band and, of course, singing. Her voice is a gentle, clear soprano with a warm vibrato.
This natural vibrato has made its way into her performance of penny whistle as well. Helen's
facility with languages resulted in a teaching career in the New Brunswick French
Immersion programme. This experience contributed to Celtique Air's interest in Acadian
traditional music. Helen is also very involved with directing five levels of choirs, ages five to
senior citizen age, and teaching classes in Scottish Gaelic.
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Katherine Gorey-McSorley
Age 13, Kathleen studies fiddle with Cape Breton fiddler Krista Touesnard and classical violin with Silbie Roy. She also had the good fortune of living and studying fiddle for a year in Ireland. While there, she played in many sessions and concerts. The traditional Irish style is evident in Kathleen's playing.
Kathleen has performed at the CIBC Run For the Cure, the CIS University Women's National Basketball Championships, the Catholic Women's Equity National Conference, Big Hearts For The Homeless, Artimus Dance recitals and with the "Cottagers" in the Ultra Sound concert at the Fredericton Playhouse. She has played in session by invitation on Cape Cod.
In addition to her fiddling Kathleen dances with the Stanford School of Irish Dance under the tutelage of Sharon Stanford-Rutter and is a former member of Helen McKinnon's Lintuhtine Youth Choir. Besides her solo work Kathleen is a member of "Celtic Discovery Performing Troupe New Brunswick". This troupe did a performance tour Ireland and Scotland in the summer of 2007. She also plays with "Vegetarian Haggis", the Celtic Band that won the Soundwaves competition at the 2008 East Coast Music Awards.
Kathleen has earned her way to compete in the "All Ireland Fleadh" in Tullamore, Co. Offaly in August 2008.
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Vegetarian Haggis (Fiddle Ensemble)
Vegetarian Haggis formed in July 2007 during a tour of Scotland and Ireland by the Celtic Discovery Performing Troupe. The six members of Vegetarian Haggis were an integral part of that tour's success. This talented and lively bunch of musicians applies their youthful energy and fresh perspective to traditional Celtic music. They won the 2008 ECMA Soundwaves Battle of the Bands competition for independent high school bands in New Brunswick. They are as follows:
Agnes Flanagan is an accomplished singer and piano player, having taken lessons and performed in many musical/theatre shows from an early age. She has played accompaniment for fiddle for 5 years, and has studied with pianist Kim Holmes. She has performed with the Fiddle Chicks since their creation 3 years ago. Agnes is a Grade 11 student at Fredericton High School.
Sophie Flanagan plays the fiddle, including Scottish, Irish, French Canadian, and most recently Texas Swing, under the watchful eye of renowned fiddler Gordon Stobbe. Like her older sister, Sophie is a member of the Fiddle Chicks. She has won numerous festival awards for her fiddle playing. A grade 9 student at Fredericton High School, Sophie is also a singer and experienced performer in numerous stage shows.
At the tender age of 13, Kathleen Gorey-McSorley is already a seasoned competitor and international performer. She plays fiddle, mandolin and tin whistle, dances with the Stanford School of Irish Dance, and sings with the Lintuhtine Youth Choir. She had the good fortune of living in Ireland for a year, and the traditional Irish fiddle style is evident in her playing. Kathleen is a grade 8 student at George Street Middle School.
Keegan Manson-Curry first demonstrated his love of Celtic music when his 8-months-pregnant mother attended a concert by The Rankins and realized he was responding to the music in a big way. He's played the fiddle for only 4 1/2 years, yet has already received several festival awards. He also plays the bodhran and bass guitar. Keegan is in grade 9 at Fredericton High School.
When Jessica Munkittrick was 3, she begged her parents to play the fiddle. Now 16, she is an accomplished fiddler influenced by the Celtic tradition. Also a member of the Fiddle Chicks, she enjoys sharing her talent by teaching young students. She is also a 10-year veteran of highland dance. Jessica is a grade 11 student at Kennebecasis Valley High School in Quispamsis.
At 17 years old, Melanie Richard is a formidable fiddle player and teacher. She began playing at the age of 9 and has competed in numerous competitions around the province, receiving gold and silver awards for her efforts. Melanie is also a member of the Fiddle Chicks. She will graduate from grade 12 in June 2008 and looks forward to university studies in pharmacy.
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Moon Joyce
Moon Joyce has been performing for and with children for over 25 years across Canada from sea to sea to sea. A former classroom teacher in the arts, and residential performing artist in the schools of Manitoba for nine years, she is a wicked good story-teller. (What else would you expect from somebody named Moon?!) She weaves story, song, and movement into her performances with children. Moon draws on many years of experience as a cultural worker in diverse communities and brings a rich range of stories and songs to her circles. She is engaging, funny, and her stories inspire and entertain all ages. Be prepared for a belly full of laughter and a heart full of wisdom.
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Sebastien Boudreau et Ami (Acadian Folk Duo)
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Songwriter's Circle
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Wednesday Night Fiddlers
The Wednesday Evening Fiddlers of Perth-Andover NB was formed in 1987/88 and is dedicated to the preservation of old time fiddle music. The members who range in age from 7 to 94 come from Northwestern NB and Aroostook County Maine. The group meets weekly offering fiddle and step dance instruction to all ages and performs regularly for nursing homes, charities, and fundraisers. During its 20 years of operation the group has performed throughout the Maritimes and Northeast Maine.
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HAT Band (Maritime Folk)
A great Maritime sound rising from the roots and strengths of its members, the HAT Band plays a bouncy mix of traditional Celtic and Maritime fiddle tunes, original songs and ballads and even a little rock and roll. They have been together a relatively short time but, individually, they have been entertaining and honing their skills for years.
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John Ferguson & Roger Stone (Celtic/ Maritime Pub Band)
John Ferguson and Roger Stone are two Cape Breton lads with years of experience in Acoustic Folk Music. John is from Caribou Marsh in the Mira Region of Cape Breton. Roger is from St. Peter's in Richmond County.
John started playing professionally in Sydney in 1972 as co-founder of the group Miller's Jug. John later formed Kiltarlity. He then joined the Halifax group McGinty in 1977. He also collaborated with fiddler, Buddy MacDonald from 1990 until 2003.
Roger's first group was East Coast Bluegrass. He has been a member of Notework, Brakin' Tradition and Breton (as main songwriter)
Both men are multi-instrumentalists and accomplished vocalists. They have worked together since 2004 and have achieved tight harmonies and stellar instrumental work. Both are songwriters, John has written for McGinty, Evans and Doherty and Masterless Men. Roger has written many fiddle tunes in the Celtic Tradition.
They are regular performers at the Halifax Pub scene, have appeared at several Cape Breton Summer Festivals, appearing in 2007 at the Celtic Colours Festival.
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Oran (Folk Music Ensemble)
Formed in 1984, this local group takes its name from the Scots Gaelic word meaning song. For over 21 years they have performed at many of the Maritimes premier music events such as the Festival By-the Sea in Saint John and the Lunenburg Folk Festival in Nova Scotia. Group members, Doug and Geri Carter, Doug Gallant, Ardith Kerr and sisters Mary Anne and Margaret Van Oostwaard have recorded three albums of music as well as a collection of Gaelic material for the National Archives of Canada.
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Fiddle Showcase
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Will Toner (Celtic Maritime Group)
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Jesse Ferguson (Celtic Maritime Singer)
Jesse Ferguson is a folk musician from Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, and his love of Scottish and Irish traditional music was nurtured in the neighbourhood of Glengarry County, home of North America’s biggest Highland Games. He sings and plays several musical instruments, including the guitar, mandolin, violin, harmonica, bodhran and pennywhistle. He has performed solo and with other musicians in Cornwall, Ottawa and Fredericton, New Brunswick, where he currently resides. He posts videos of traditional music on the website youtube (http://www.youtube.com/BardofCornwall) under the name The Bard of Cornwall, and he is currently working on a full-length CD.
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