Irish Cultural Day 2024: November 3 at East Rochester High School!

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Want to learn an instrument?
Step dance? Sing?

Join us for an afternoon of free workshops in Irish music, dance, and culture, led by members of the Rochester Irish community. This event, which ran for 18 years at Nazareth and St. John Fisher Universities, has moved a mile down the street to East Rochester High School!

The Tom Finucane Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann is excited to partner with ERSD's Roisin Dubh ensemble to make the event happen again in 2024.

Location

East Rochester High School
200 Woodbine Ave
East Rochester, NY 14445
Assemble near the auditorium, and disperse to classrooms at 12:30.
Class Schedule
The schedule of workshops below is tentative -- all classes and times subject to change. Our instructors are volunteers, and we're SO grateful for their help!

Gathering by the High School Auditorium (12:00-12:30)
Straight ahead from the school entrance, can't miss it. We'll post final room numbers and class listings there! Bring snacks if you like.

Workshop Section A: 12:30-1:30
  • Bodhrán (Irish Drum) with Jess Kamens (all levels)
  • Flute with Dan Hertzson and Dan English (level 1)
  • Fiddle with Ella Powers (all levels)
  • Tenor Banjo and Mandolin with Jared Jones (level 1)
  • Whistle with John Ryan (level 1)*
  • Social & Set Dance with Kathy Whitfield (level 1)
Workshop Section B: 1:45-2:45
  • Session Standards (All Instruments) with Dan English (PDF)
  • Concertina with Ben Goehring (all levels)
  • Fiddle with Jared Jones (level 1)
  • Whistle wth Ralph Minervino (level 2)
  • Accompaniment (All Instruments) with Mary Lester, Tom Bushnell, and Ben Hockenberry (all levels)
  • Kids' Stories and Music for Samhain with Emily Nunn and Mike Ryan
  • Sean Nos and Traditional Step Dance with Kathy Whitfield (level 1)
Workshop Section C: 3:00-4:00
  • Button Accordion with John Ryan (all levels)
  • Flute - Polka Focus with Augie Fairchild (all levels)
  • Fiddle with Ben Goehring (level 2)
  • Tenor Banjo and Mandolin with Ben Hockenberry (level 2)
  • Uilleann Pipes with Mike Ryan (all levels)
  • Singing with Adrienne Maher-Henrie and Becky Farrell-Ferrigno (all levels)
  • Kids' Crafts, Song, and Dance with Emily Nunn, Pete Hasler, and Kathy Whitfield
Session at 4:00 in the Auditorium

* Levels:
  • "Level 1" classes are intended for people newer to an instrument. You may have some experience, but never played Irish tunes. If you have no experience whatsoever with an instrument, listen for a bit and feel it out!
  • "Level 2" classes are intended for people who know some tunes on their instrument, and are interested in expanding your repertoire of tunes, techniques, and styles. All are welcome to listen!
  • "All levels" classes are for a mix of beginners and more experienced folks. Instructors will likely gauge the playing of each person in the room and adapt accordingly.

For all classes, you're expected to bring your own instrument. While instructors may have one or more extra instruments to let new players try, it's not a guarantee!
*We're ordering some extra tin whistles, if you'd like to try out a new instrument. :)