Hi [FIRSTNAME],

Welcome to the first issue of The Triskell Studio News!  This new monthly newsletter is a way for me to keep in touch and let you know about some of the neat things going on around here, including new projects, upcoming performances, classes and any other interesting items I can dig up. Feedback is always welcome, so please feel free to drop me a line at jwp@thetriskellstudio.com !

NEWS

Three New Projects for Fall 2009!

I'm very excited to be involved in three new projects this fall and the opportunity to work with some really amazing folks! All of these already have bookings before the end of the year, so check out the Gigs page on my website or MySpace page and if you can, come check them out!

Sixpenny Money is a new dance band formed with pianist Beth Beech. With a solid core sound of flute and piano, Sixpenny Money aims to bring enjoyment, entertainment and a sense of community to their audiences, playing primarily for ceilis, contra dances and private events. Les Starkey will also join us on bodhran, and the amazing Tara MacKenzie will be handling vocals.

Come check us out at McDougall Cottage in Cambridge, ON on Sunday October 18th!

Visit Sixpenny Money on MySpace or Facebook.

The Triskell Studio Presents: Nollaig! offers a breathtaking blend of traditional Celtic music, songs, carols, storytelling and poetry, in a series of unique seasonal concerts centered on the winter holidays. Featuring the talents of  Tara MacKenzie (vocals, accordion), Saskia Tomkins (fiddle, cello, nyckelharpa, backing vocals), Beth Beech (piano, vocals) and yours truly on flute, whistles and percussion, the group creates the warm, intimate atmosphere of a kitchen party where friends and loved ones gather in the home to share laughter, stories, music, and each other’s company. (And if there’s a bit of dancing happening, well no one will complain!)

House concerts have already been scheduled in Stratford (Nov 28) and Guelph (Dec 5), with more to come before the season ends!

A MySpace page for Nollaig! is in the works, but in the meantime you can get your social networking on and visit us on Facebook!

Gaedelica is a fresh, genre-crossing collaboration with vocalist and fellow Riverside Celtic College instructor Karen MacLeod. Drawing on influences as diverse as classical voice, Scots and Persian devotional texts, jazz harmonies, Middle Eastern rhythms and traditional Celtic folk music, the project explores the interplay of the three oldest instruments in human history: voice, percussion and flute. 

Upcoming appearances include a spot at with David Rankine's Dulcimerhead at SpiritFest II in Newmarket, ON (Oct 31) and The Registry Theatre in Kitchener, ON (Dec 12) opening for Rant Maggie Rant's seasonal Celtic concert. 

A new MySpace page for Gaedelica will be coming soon!

For more information or to book any of these groups, please drop me a line at jwp@thetriskellstudio.com.

"Social Music Services" Now Being Offered

One of the greatest things about playing music is the chance to make that music part of something greater - people's lives. There's a vital, social side to music-making that can sometimes be overlooked in formal concert settings, which is why playing for weddings, private parties, community dances, and corporate or not-for-profit events is so important. After all, what is a party without great music?

If you have any kind of private, community or corporate event, and would like to include live celtic music along with it, please get in touch. Ensembles are available for any occaision, with a wide range of instrumentation and configurations. Having almost 10 years experience working in a public relations setting, I can help you plan the musical side of your event, consult with you to select the right music and even offer some logistical advice.

Visit the "Social Music Services"  page at www.thetriskellstudio.com for details about all available services. 

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES (full details available here)

Oct 17 - Private ceili with Sixpenny Money

Oct 18 - Sixpenny Money @ McDougall Cottage, 2 pm. Cambridge, ON

Oct 23 - Private ceili

Oct 30 - Ceili with the Grand River Ceili Band, 8 pm. Victoria Park Pavillion, Kitchener.

Oct 31 - Gaedelica in concert with Dulcimerhead @ Spiritfest II. 7:30 pm, Newmarket Community Theatre, Newmarket, ON.

TEACHING/CLASSES

Private music lessons. For anyone that may interested, I have some spots available for private students on Irish Flute or Whistle. I also offer tutoring in Music Theory, including preparation for RCM Theory Examinations. Email me  for information.

Riverside Celtic College. I'll be returning as an instructor at the Riverside Celtic College this term, teaching both Beginner Tin Whistle and Intermediate Tin Whistle/Irish Flute. We've had a great deal of fun in these classes, so if you're looking for a great way to get into the music or want to pick up some new tricks, consider taking a course. Classes begin Thursday evening, October 15.

A wide range of classes are being offered with some amazing faculty including Dan MacDonald (fiddle), Andy Hillhouse (guitar) and Phil McMahon (mandolin/banjo and Irish Language). For details and registration information, visit the Riverside Celtic College website.   

ANNOUNCEMENTS