Celebrate Ireland at ArtSpring

Celebrate Ireland Poster

Sunday, March 15 Celebrate Ireland music, song & dance in honour of St. Patrick featuring Sheila Ryan with an all star band of award winning musicians (including Zav RT & Adrian Dolan)ArtSpring Island Arts Centre, 100 Jackson Ave, Salt Spring Island

With special guests, The Salt Spring Island Fiddlers & the O’Brien School of Irish DanceDoors: 1:30pm, Show: 2:30pmTickets: $18 adult / $15 students & seniors Available at the ArtSpring Box Office 250-537-2102 or toll-free 1-866-537-2102

ABOUT Celebrate Ireland:

St. Patrick’s Day could not have a more fitting event; Celebrate Ireland brings a lively mixture of music, dance, song and humour to the stage. This all star line up features some of the finest Celtic musicians on the west coast:

Sheila Ryan – Harp & Voice

Born and raised in Limerick, Ireland, Sheila has 3 recordings (see “Autumn Days” below) and has toured in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe appearing on stage with the likes of The Rovers, Tommy Makem, Capercallie and Cherish the Ladies to name a few. See below to learn about the new CD “Autumn Days”.

Adrian Dolan – Fiddle & Accordion

Juno-Award nominee as a member of the Bills, Adrian has has toured and collaborated with a diverse array of artists from Barney Bentall to The Paperboys. In 2007, he toured eastern Canada with Irish Legends, The Chieftains. He currently resides in Victoria where he juggles a busy schedule as a studio musician, producer, teacher and performer. www.myspace.com/adriandolan

Zav (Jaime) RT – Fiddola

Performer, composer and music educator, Zav RT has released two multi-award nominated albums on the Dog My Cat label, is a member of James Keelaghan’s band, and is the driving force and teacher behind Fiddleworks. A dynamic performer and teacher, she travels North America and the UK performing and giving workshops, and especially loves working with Native Youth in the Northwest Territories. www.zavrt.com

Eric Reiswig – Uileann Pipes and Whistles

Irish piper Eric Reiswig adds a magical sound to the group. In addition to his love of Irish music, Eric is the founder of Victoria’s medieval music group, Banquo Folk Ensemble. In his spare time, Eric builds Uileann pipes and has earned a world-wide reputation for his instruments.

Jenny Ritter – Guitar and Banjo

Best known as a member of The Gruff, Jenny’s musical background is strongly rooted in Irish and folk music. She is a multi-talented musician and songwriter, and a brilliant visual artist. www.thegruff.com/jenny.htm

Evan Bates – Cello and Acoustic Bass

A graduate of UVIC’s music program and a music teacher at the Shadbolt Center in Vancouver, Evan brings a wealth of experience from classical, jazz and world music to his playing. He is a member of Vancouver’s Afro-Cuban group, Jarimba, and spends much of his time recording as a session musician and touring.

The O’Brien School of Irish Dance

Having trained with the Rose Fearon School of Irish Dancing in Toronto for fifteen years before moving to the west coast, Mairead O’Brien currently operates her own schools in Victoria, Duncan and Nanaimo. Her students have performed at Victoria’s Symphony Splash, The Dragonboat Festival and Canada Day Celebrations, as well as an ongoing series of shows with Tiller’s Folly in BC schools as part of an Arts Council project for the BC School Board. www.obrienirishdance.com

ABOUT Fiddleworks Community Development Society:

The Annual Fiddle Camp on Salt Spring Island brings together over 100 adults and children for a week of collaborative learning and community building, with some of Canada’s finest music instructors. The camp includes educational programs which use music to develop leadership, teamwork, self esteem, and life skills. Fiddleworks’ goal is to provide accessible, affordable music education for children and adults delivered with heart and skill by dedicated professionals.

A non profit society since 2006, Fiddleworks continues their community building activities throughout BC and the Northwest Territories hosting events such as barn dances, workshops, weekend jamborees, musical performances and youth exchanges. Other organizations can contract help to get music events started in their own communities.

Fiddleworks’ instructors also travel to remote communities in the far North 4-5 times a year to teach fiddle to Native youth. Many children in the North have few opportunities; learning to play the fiddle teaches valuable life skills and is a powerful tool of self-expression. The fiddle is a bridge between old and new, having links to their traditional culture. A distance education program also allows Northern students to continue learning regardless of their location. www.fiddleworks.ca