Here are the emails that we have sent out announcing changes or new information about the O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat, in order of most recent.
SENT WEDNESDAY, MAY 24th, 2008
Hello All,
I hope you are doing well and enjoying the last “cool” weeks before summer hits. For many of us Irish-trad-playing Texans, we’re already longing for October when the retreat and cool weather combine to make life almost perfect. Just wanted to check in with you and make sure that all of your questions are being answered on our website or by our registrar, lodging manager and anyone else we’ve encouraged you to contact.
Here are some updates and clarifications:
Waltzes -- Mimi Rogers, one of our past fiddle instructors, wants to hold a “waltz” workshop where students explore and share waltzes. There are some beautiful melodies that most learning Irish players miss playing because of our love for the jigs and reels. If there is enough interest expressed (email me), I will try and set up an hour sometime during the retreat. If this idea works, maybe we can do the same for other forms such as polkas, slides and hornpipes that are played so little here in the U.S.
Volunteers – a number of people have asked about how they might volunteer or volunteer their spouses. While it may be a selection on the enrollment site, please contact us first so we can determine if there are any openings. Some of our instructors’ spouses are planning to volunteer, so our needs are limited and specific to certain times and days. You can drop me an email and I’ll let you know what positions are available and when.
Lodging Closed on Three Facilities – Because you registered early, most of you were able to get the rooms you wanted. Louvain Guiomard who is our assistant director and responsible for lodging and our main office, tells me that the Hacienda, Barn and cottages are completely full. That leaves the Alamo, Hi View, the lodges, dorm beds, camping and RV sites. If you have friends who are slow to enroll, please let them know that there are only two of our motels left and 6 RV slots. There will always be plenty of dorm beds and camping sites because we have lots of facilities for those.
Private Lessons – Several students have inquired about our teachers giving private lessons during the retreat. For those that have light teaching loads, this is a possibility. For our guest instructors, I would imagine it near impossible with the loads they teach. If you are interested in lessons, reply and let me know your instrument and level, and I will send you some contact info on those who might fit your needs. We have a number of great players who may not be teaching but plan to attend or they are serving as an assistant playing their melody instruments in the guitar or piano classes that might be able to help you. All I would do for you is help you make contact and then you can negotiate lesson fees directly with them. There are lots of places at the retreat you could find room to have a lesson.
Youth Camp – Just another reminder about our very first O’Flaherty Irish Music Youth Camp on June 30th and July 1st. Gordon McLeod is directing this camp for ages 6-15 at the Springhill Retreat Center in Richardson, TX. This is a day camp with classes in fiddle, guitar, flute, whistle, piano, mandolin/bouzouki/tenor banjo and bodhran. The cost is $50 for one day and $75 for both days. If you coming from out of town, you can tent camp or stay in an RV on the grounds, but everyone else will need to find nearby motels or stay with local families. If you would like us to try and find a host family, let Gordon know. Any questions or comments, contact Gordon at youthcamp@oflahertyretreat.org.
Enrollment Process Feedback – Because we are using a new version of our online enrollment software, the developer Glenn Standefer is very interested in your suggestions and criticisms to help him improve the process. Please send your feedback to him at glenn_standefer@hotmail.com.
Marekting Suggestions – If you know of any groups, lists, bulletin boards, websites, etc. that might like to hear about the retreat or the youth camp, would you please send me an email with the contact info or links? We would like to use the Internet as much as possible to get out the word, and we haven’t begun to touch the surface of what is out there.
SENT WEDNESDAY, MAY 1st, 2008
Hello Friends of the O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat!
It’s finally time! Our online registration is now open!
We are excited about what lies ahead in just six months. Mark your calendars for Oct. 24-26, 2008. A lot of work has already been done by many people to make this our best retreat yet, and we hope you will join us for three fun days of learning and playing traditional Irish music in one of the most comfortable camps you will find anywhere. While you don’t have to enroll this instant, we need to advise you that we have set class limits on all instrument classes to 18 and that means a number of our most popular classes will close at some point before the retreat. You don’t want to miss this year’s retreat, so to be safe, enroll sooner than later.
Here are some steps to consider before you enroll:
There is much more that can be said and will be said about the retreat, but we felt it was important to kick off the registration first. In the coming months, you will receive updates with more detailed info about our fifth annual event. By the way, you can read all of the updates on our “UPDATES” page. And please don’t forget our first annual O’Flaherty Irish Music Youth Camp on June 30 & July 1. If you have kids interested in learning Irish music, please check out this new event.
One last note. I have set up a photo album on Picasa (Google) containing photos from last year’s event. To view them, go to http://picasaweb.google.com/Oflaherty.Retreat. I think you will need to have a Google account to download them. Sorry for the delay in getting them published. Thanks!
SENT SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 2008
Hello Friends of the O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat,
We just want to bring you up to date on the latest news about the 2008 O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat. Some of you are receiving these notices for the first time, so please go to our website at www.oflahertyretreat.org for many more details regarding the retreat. Also, at the bottom of this email are a couple of other educational opportunities of which you may have interest.
Guest Instructor List Finalized
Here is our 2008 guest list: James Kelly (fiddle), Matt Cranitch (fiddle),Mickey Dunne (Uilleann pipes), Mick Moloney (tenor banjo), Pat Egan (guitar), June McCormack (flute) and Danny O'Flaherty (singing). And of course, we have 21 other notable instructors who are wonderful teachers of Irish music on their instruments (or voice). It’s a great lineup, and you can learn more about our teaching staff at http://www.oflahertyretreat.org/Instructors/.
Online Registration Begins May 1st
We have decided to begin taking online registration on May 1st. This will give us time to test drive our upgraded registration software and finalize the remaining details of the retreat. Thanks for your patience. Because we will limit instrument class sizes this year to 18, we highly encourage you to register once the online process begins. Also, if you are wanting to reserve any of the motel rooms at Camp Hoblitzelle, you definitely need to register early this year.
Tentative Class Schedule on Website
Our tentative schedule is now on our website in PDF and Excel file formats at http://www.oflahertyretreat.org/Classes/. As we announced in our last update, we are very excited about our new schedule which allows for more Irish music enrichment classes. The core courses will be taught at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The 1 p.m. slot is now reserved for enrichment classes and select instrument classes that meet once per day. Please note that the location of the classes may change depending on enrollment sizes. For that matter, up until May 1st when registration begins, the classes themselves may change, so check back then in case there are any modifications.
No Online Store
In our continuing effort to simplify our registration process, we have elected not to have an online store. All of our products can be purchased at our Products Booth at the retreat including t-shirts, CDs, tunebooks, mugs and all of the teacher products.
Room Policy Changed
Instead of the complicated discount policy we had for reserving rooms to increase room usage, we have returned to the standard way all motels/hotels work. One lodger reserves and pays for the room, and he or she can add any other lodgers as they see fit. Consequently, for the motel rooms, we have reduced the rates slightly to offset the removal of the discounts.
New Payment Policy
Because of the class ceilings and limited lodging, we are now requiring payment at the time of registration so we can manage availability in these two areas better. When you register, you will have up to two weeks to pay 50% down. You can do this with PayPal online or by sending a check. The balance will then be due by September 1st. After September 1st, our tuition rates will raise by 15% which will also affect any balances due.
O’Flaherty Irish Music Youth Camp
We are almost ready to begin taking registration for our youth camp which will be held June 30-July 1 at the Springhill Retreat Center in Richardson, TX. A separate email will go out announcing all of the details and registration process soon. In the meantime, please visit the youth camp website at http://oflahertyretreat.org/youthcamp/.
Help Support the Retreat through Sponsorship, Donations
You may be surprised to know that tuition alone does not cover the costs of the retreat. Each year we must seek outside funding to operate the retreat in the black. Everyone who participates in organizing the retreat does so on a volunteer basis, which means that all of the monies collected are devoted entirely to the running of the retreat. If you have the means to help, we ask that you consider becoming one of our sponsors or contributors. We welcome any level of support and, of course, because we are a tax-exempt organization, your donation is tax deductible. If you would like more information, please go to http://oflahertyretreat.org/support.html.
MORE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Tulsa Irish Music Workshops April 3rd
Melissa Tatum has organized a series of workshops on Thursday evening, April 3 in Tulsa, OK. The Workshops will be taught by members of the Irish group Grada (www.gradamusic.com and myspace.com/gradamusic), who will be in Tulsa to perform as part of the Celtic series at the PAC. She has arranged six workshops in flute, whistle, bodhran, fiddle, guitar, and singing. With the exception of the beginning whistle workshop, these are targeted to musicians who are already proficient on their instrument and who either play celtic music or are interested in learning more about it.
The idea behind the workshops is that over the last few years, many opportunities have sprung up for beginner workshops (indeed we run a series of them in the Fall), but the opportunities are more limited for those who already know how to play. The organizers want these to be true exchanges of musical styles and techniques. The workshops are scheduled as follows: 5:00-6:15pm Flute; 5:00-6:15pm Singing; 6:30-7:45pm Guitar; 6:45-7:15 pm Beginning Whistle; 8:00-9:15pm Bodhran; 8:00-9:15pm Advanced Whistle; 8:00-9:15pm Fiddle (waiting list).
The beginning whistle workshop is $15; all others are $30. All workshops will be held in John Rogers Hall on the University of Tulsa Campus (3120 E. 4th Place, Tulsa, OK 74104). The fee for each workshop is $30. To reserve a spot, I need 1) your name, 2) either your phone number or email address, 3) either the name of the band you are with or your musical background, and 4) a check or money order. Please mail the check to Melissa Tatum, OWC Press, PO Box 700785, Tulsa, OK 74170. If you would like more information, please let call 918.724.8722 or email Melissa at melissaltatum@yahoo.com.
ZoukFest 2008 on June 8-14th, College of Santa Fe in Santa Fe, New Mexico
ZoukFest is very pleased to have Irish bouzouki pioneer Andy Irvine at ZoukFest this year!!! Since his early days with Sweeney's Men in the 1960s to Planxty, Patrick Street, and Mozaik, Andy has been at the forefront of the revival of Irish traditional music. His virtuosity on the mandolin, mandola and bouzouki, as well as his unique approach to arranging, have made him one of the most influential musicians of his generation. Andy's participation at ZoukFest 2008 is a unique opportunity to learn from one of the greats in a relaxed workshop setting. Don't miss it!
ZoukFest Staff: Randal Bays (Irish fiddle, DADGAD guitar), Eliot Grasso (uilleann pipes, flute/whistle), Luke Plumb (mandolin, bouzouki), Roger Landes (bouzouki), Dave Cory (tenor banjo, guitar), Chris Smith (accompaniment), Stanley Greenthal (bouzouki), Mason Brown (fingerstyle guitar), Polly Ferber (Balkan & Middle Eastern percussion), Kaila Flexer (Violin, Balkan & Middle Eastern music), Douglas Goodhart (Old Time Fiddle, Cajun Ensemble, Rhythm Challenge), Angela Mariani (Early English Song, Medieval Music), Moira Smiley (Anglo-Celtic Song, Balkan Voice), Steve Paxton (Arranging Folk Songs for Vocal Ensemble), Don Richmond (Getting your Music past the Fear, Songwriter's Workshop), Steve Smith (Bluegrass/Old Time Guitar & Mandolin, Music Theory), Chipper Thompson (Jump Start Mandolin, Blues Guitar).
ZoukFest Classes: Irish Fiddle, Irish Guitar (DADGAD and standard tuning), Irish Flute/Whistle, Anglo-Celtic Song Variation in Irish Music, Irish Tenor Banjo, Celtic Mandolin, Jump Start Bouzouki, Planxty: the Sound of 16 Strings, Andy Irvine Bouzouki Seminar, Bodhran, Celtic Back-Up for All Instrumentalists I & II, Fest Breizh: Music of Brittany, Americana Mandolin, Americana Guitar, Introduction to Music Theory, Jump Start Mandolin, Introduction to Blues Guitar, Arranging Folk Songs for Vocal Ensemble, Fingerstyle Guitar in Open Tunings, Balkan & Middle Eastern Percussion I & II, Exploring Turkish & Greek Music, Kafana: Music of the Balkans & Beyond, Structured Improvisation, Rhythm Challenge, Old Time Long-Bow Fiddling of West Virginia, Cajun Ensemble, Early English Song Introduction to Medieval Music, Getting Your Music past the Fear Performance Workshop, Songwriting Workshop, Balkan Voice. For Class Descriptions and Staff Bios log on to: http://zoukfest.com In addition, ZoukFest be hosting the 2nd Annual New Mexico Luthiers Showcase on Sunday, June 8th.
SENT SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27,2008
There’s a lot of news to share about the O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat, our new O’Flaherty Irish Music Youth Camp and some other musical matters that may be of interest.
O’Flaherty Retreat
Our website is now ready for viewing at www.oflahertyretreat.org. This is a different URL so you may need to bookmark it and avoid going to the old one. Please understand that there may be some changes prior to our opening online registration in April. Still, a lot of good information is there and will help you plan.
Instructors
Our instructor selection for this year’s retreat is now complete. As we announced in our last email, Matt Cranitch and Mickey Dunne will be returning on fiddle and Uilleann pipes respectively. Joining us for the first time will be James Kelly (fiddle), Mick Moloney (tenor banjo), June McCormack (flute), Pat Egan (guitar), and Danny O’Flaherty (singing). For a complete list of our instructors, go to http://oflahertyretreat.org/Instructors/. It’s a great group, and we’re hoping you’ll be as pleased as we are.
Classes
We have changed the schedule slightly to permit more enrichment classes and informances to occur after lunch. Each day, the morning classes and mid-afternoon classes will be devoted to our regular courses. The classes immediately after lunch are designed to enhance the overall experience and education of our students, and the diversity of classes being offered is worth noting. There’s something for everyone, including participants who may not play an instrument or sing a note. For a list of classes, visit http://oflahertyretreat.org/Classes/. A number of the classes do not have descriptions yet, but we should have everything updated by April 1st in time for online registration.
O’Flaherty Irish Music Youth Camp Is A Go!
We received a fair number of positive responses about our having a summer youth camp, so the TIMES board has given us the green light. There is now a website containing most of the info parents need to begin their plans for enrolling their kids. Go to http://oflahertyretreat.org/youthcamp/ for all of the details. It’s going to be a fun time for all.
Celtic Perspectives
An annual “cultural concert” will be performed at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas as a tribute to Irish and Scottish music on Sunday, March 2nd at 3 P.M. Titled Celtic Perspectives, the program will dance at times and fill your soul with Irish ballads and Scottish folk songs. Conducted by Eugene Migliaro Corporon, the Lone Star Wind Orchestra will perform classical masterworks like Malcolm Arnold's Four Scottish Dances, Percy Grainger's beloved Irish Tune from County Derry and Molly on the Shore; as well as new contemporary works inspired by Celtic music including Andrew Boysen Jr's Kirkpatrick Fanfare, Frank Ticheli's Loch Lomond and Nathan Daughtrey’s Limerick Daydreams. One of the highlights of the program will feature a composition for Irish pub band and wind orchestra titled Minstrels of the Kells by Texas-based composer Dan Welcher. The LSWO welcomes to the Meyerson stage David Lovrien, Rick Holt, Michelle Feldman and Mike Tidwell performing on behalf of the Traditional Irish Music Education Society (TIMES). The concert will be hosted by Pipe Major Don Shannon, a native of Northern Ireland, who has been piping for over 35 years, and has performed with the North Texas Caledonian Pipes and Drums and the famed Chieftains. CELTIC PERSPECTIVES tickets range from $10 - $40. Purchase Online Here or call Central Ticket Office at 800-462-7979 to place your order. Group discounts for ten or more are available at 50% off. Call 800-462-7979 to purchase group discount tickets.
North Texas Irish Festival this Weekend
What can you say about this wonderful festival that hasn’t already been said. One of America’s top Irish festivals gets underway this Friday night, February 29th and goes through Sunday evening. If you love Irish music and the Irish culture, Dallas is the place to be this weekend. The O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat will have a booth in the Cultural area, so bring your instruments and join our sessions! For more info about the festival, go to http://www.ntif.org/. See you there!