Irish music performed Sept. 27 at ASU
Students and faculty from the Hayes School of Music’s Ireland
study abroad program will present information about their experiences and perform traditional Irish
music Sept. 27 beginning at 8 p.m. in Broyhill Music Center’s Rosen Concert Hall at Appalachian
State University.
Admission is free.
The “Ireland Informance” will include
jigs, reels, airs, slides, polkas and ballads presented by students who traveled to Ireland in 2011
and 2010.
They will perform on fiddle, harp, flute, penny whistle, bodhran, button
accordion, uilleann pipes and guitar.
The Hayes School of Music’s Ireland program was begun
in 2000 by Scott Meister. He traveled to the country on an international travel grant to explore
establishing a study abroad program in traditional Irish music.
He established a
relationship with the University College in Cork’s School of Music, which has been the site for the
program. Faculty and students from Appalachian spend two weeks at UCC working with their faculty and
students.
The Ireland program introduces students to traditional Irish music through a
hands-on approach with performances and interactions with Irish musicians. The students attend
private lessons, master classes and recitals by Irish musicians at the University College in Cork.
Students also observe and participate in different pub music sessions, where they
continue to learn about the culture and history of traditional Irish music.
The
program also includes excursions to historical and cultural sites in Dublin, County Tipperary and in
County Cork.
The Ireland study abroad program is co-directed by Meister and Nancy
Schneeloch-Bingham.
