DECEMBER 2011/JANUARY 2012
www.celtic-connection.com
Page 3
A magical concert
experience that captures the spirit of the season
VANCOUVER - The world-class ensemble that is Winter Harp celebrates its 18th touring season this year, with 15 western Canada concert dates including stops near you.
They'll be in North Vancouver, downtown Vancouver and in Maple Ridge in mid-December.
What continually draws audiences to sell-out shows wherever Winter Harp performs? Some say it's because this celebration of the Christmas and winter season has the ability both to inspire awe and heart-warming nostalgia in equal measure.
Dozens of candles light the stage and Winter Harp's outstanding musicians, in medieval attire, perform a collection of music from well-known carols to Celtic, medieval, world and Spanish tunes.
Audiences leave with words like "beautiful," "enrapturing" and "mesmerizing" on their lips.
Harps, flutes, singers and percussion come together to perform festive carols and stories to warm your heart and wrap you in the Christmas spirit.
Their instrumentation includes the rare and beautiful as well, and ranges from golden Celtic and classical harps to drums, tambourines, temple bells, flutes and an assortment of extraordinary 12th century instruments: the ethereal-sounding bass psaltery (the only one like it in the world), the symphonie (a medieval ancestor of the hurdy-gurdy) and the Swedish nyckelharpa.
This year the ensemble welcomes a new member, as legendary harper and storyteller Patrick Ball joins them as their special guest narrator/harper.
Ball is considered one of the premier wire-strung Celtic harpers and spoken word artists in the world today.
"I first saw Patrick perform in the 1990s," says Winter Harp director Lori Pappajohn. "He was absolutely
WINTER HARP director Lori Pappajohn.
7 am thrilled to be sharing Patrick
Ball with our audiences across western Canada this year '
mesmerizing. Since then I have always hoped to work with him, and I am thrilled to be sharing Patrick with our audiences across Western Canada this year."
The eight-member Winter Harp ensemble will perform on December 17 at 7:30 PM in the beauty of Vancouver's venerable St. Andrews-Wesley United Church at 1022 Nelson Street. (Tickets at Tickets Tonight (604) 684-2787, www.ticketstonight.ca, Zulu Records and Celtic Creations.)
They also perform on December 14 and 15 at 7:30 PM at the North Shore Credit Union Centre, Capilano University and on December 18 at 3 PM and 7 PM at The ACT in Maple Ridge. For full information, go to
www.winterharp.com.
Another Kick in the Arts: Applause for a dedicated team of volunteers
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
On November 18 and 19, director Frank Talbot and producer Harry Cussen, presented Another Kick In The Arts at the PAL Theatre in Vancouver along with a matinee on November 20, at the The Elks Hall in White Rock. The White Rock Irish Club helped to sponsor the play in White Rock.
This series of short skits really lived up to their billing and the presentation was both very funny and great light entertainment.
A large cast of volunteers took part in the production, along with stage hands, sound and lighting volunteers, and many people working behind the scenes in
various capacities who helped in so many ways. A tremendous amount of work, along with weeks of rehearsals goes into putting on a play.
With the organizers and cast pouring so much of their time and energy into the production, it was very disappointing that more of the community did not come out to support their efforts. They missed a really great evening but those who went thoroughly enjoyed it.
With proceeds of the play to benefit The Celtic Connection, Maura and I would like to thank Frank and Harry and all the cast for all your hard work and consideration for the paper. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank each and every one of you most sincerely.
-um keeran House
Bookings available^
Drumkeeran House on Ivey Lake....Five years of successful operation, providing the finest in Celtic accommodation in the Pacific Northwest
PkMBERTON B.C.
A Celtic Country House
IDEAL FOR FAMILY GATHERINGS, SPECIAL OCCASIONS AND INTIMATE WEDDINGS
a HUNDRED THOUSAND WELCOMES just OVER THE 'SEA TO SKy'!
604-894-6946 • info@drumkeeran.ca • www.drumkeeran.ca
Robbie sD
er
and silent auction in support of robert malcolm memorial pipe bands
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20,2012
TICKETS $75.00
Doors open at 6:00 pm Executive Plaza Hotel 405 North Road, Coquitlam
PERFORMANCES BY
Six time World Champions
SFU Pipe Band and the
Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Bands.
PLEASE CALL
Sherry Caves
604.669.2004 or
email bayheron@telus.net