Handing Down the Tradition

The Center for Irish Music 2015-16 Annual Report
3

A Letter from Norah

Dear Friends,

Thanks to you, the Twin Cities’ one and only traditional Irish music school is thriving. Now in our second decade of “handing down the tradition,” the CIM is seeing incredible growth as students of all ages seek out new tunes, expert instruction, and musical mentorship from our 22 instructors. It makes my heart sing to know that our work here is not only nurturing musicians in our community, but is also supporting local artists.

Your great show of support in 2015-16 made it possible to present a wildly successful Minnesota Irish Music Weekend with record support from sponsors, and send our talented students and teaching artists out into the community, taking part in 43 performances throughout the metro area.The CIM also hired and trained new staff thanks to a four-year operating support grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, and saw a new teen session sprout up at Kieran’s Irish Pub, attended regularly by the largest and most enthusiastic cohort of young ensemble musicians we’ve ever seen.

Now in our 12th year, we’re even watching some of our talented students start artistic careers of their own—a sure sign that we’re meeting our mission and inspiring the next generation to carry on this lively and living musical tradition. Thank you for helping to grow this truly exceptional intergenerational community of music players, lovers and listeners.

Sláinte

Norah Rendell

Executive Director

Click to hear Norah's live performance with Pride of New York at Éigse CIM, A Gaela Event

That Tumbledown Shack in Athlone

Pride of New York's Joanie Madden performs at the Master Artists' Concert in June

“Coming from New York and a culture where there are hundreds of people learning this music, we have nothing as organized as The Center for Irish Music. The essence of the camaraderie here in this building is second to none. And it’s not about competition—it’s about the whole school being lifted as a group. I don’t think you’re going to find that anywhere in America. It’s wonderful to see.”

Joanie Madden

Grammy-winning flute player, Cherish the Ladies & Pride of New York

Songs & Stories

Learning from the Masters

NEA Heritage Fellow Billy McComiskey and the other members of Pride of New York play it forward at Minnesota Irish Music Weekend.

 

Playing for Keeps

Meet the winners of the Tim Fitzgerald Scholarship, three outstanding students taking their love of Irish music out into the community.

Unsung Heroes

A community of like-minded music lovers keeps the CIM humming along.

 

 

Emerging Artist

Harpist Hannah Flowers is having serious fun following her love of traditional music all the way to Ireland.

 

Trad Troopers

Two of CIM’s most talented teen students traveled to Ennis, Ireland, to see Irish music at the source.

 

All Aboard

More than two dozen CIM students got aboard the bus to the Midwest Fleadh Cheoil in Cincinnati this year, and came home with medals and great memories.

People are going to try to safeguard the things that define who they are, and for the Irish, music is the art of the people.

The thing that’s so cool about traditional Irish music in the Twin Cities is that you have a real cultural center at the Center for Irish Music, a fantastic base to work with and grow from.

It’s a cultural treasure, and you can feel the love people have for it—it’s almost palpable. And then you get to share that with a kid, and you see that light go on, and the next thing you know,  they’re sitting at a session, just delighted with themselves. It’s just a beautiful culture. I live for this.

Billy McComiskey

2016 NEA Heritage Fellow

Loftus Jones performed by Billy McComiskey and Pride of New York

CIM Social

Fiona, singing in Irish at the CIM Spring Recital.

A photo posted by Emily Sigala Flagstad (@starosta1993) on

Thank you, donors!

The following individuals, families and businesses gave generously to support the annual fund, instrument fund and special events in 2015-16. Your direct donations, in-kind contributions and community support for Éigse CIM, A Gaela Event helped us hand down the tradition all year long.

$2,500 to $4,999
Anonymous
Cara Irish Pubs
Krekeltronics

$1,000 to $2,499
Anonymous
Blueberry Fields of Stillwater
Jan & Mike Casey
The Coleman Family
Ane-Grethe & Rory Delaney
Patrick Golden
Holiday Inn St. Paul
Irish Fair of Minnesota
Irish on Grand
Gloria & Mike Lynch
Jeanne Morales & Richard Skroch
Neesha & Marty Neumann – Keegan’s Pub
Pragmapool, Inc.
The Farm on St. Mathias

$500 to $999
2 Gingers Whiskey
The Celtic Junction
Megan & Patrick Cole
Barbara & Woody Edstrom
Emerald Society of Minnesota
The Larsen Family
Ron Lien
The O’Shea Family
The Padden Family
The Rendell-Miller Family
Ann Schroeder

$250 to $499
An Luan Ensemble
Anonymous
Anonymous
Marji & Mike Bailey
Susan Bedor Ford & Robert Ford
Jennifer & Jerry Burke
Capital Genealogy
In honor of Colm Carney
Casey’s Cache
The Crowe Family
Donna Dingle & Kristo Sween
Siobhán Dúgan & Chad McAnally
Richard Fitzgerald
Jacquelyn Forrette
With thanks for Mag McDermott
Hugh McMenamin
O’Shea Irish Dance Education Association (OIDEA)
Red Table Meat Company
Salverda Studio
Sea Glass Fine Art Photography
The Dubliner Pub
The Lone Grazer Creamery

$100 to $249
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Sarah & Mick Bauer
Ronald Billings
Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band
Gail M. Casey
Claddagh Coffee
Marianne Clinton
Arlie & Jack Crowe
Jen & Steve Dailey
Kate Daly
William Diederich
Down Syndrome Association of MN
Susan Enbjornson & Todd Menton
Claudia & Tony Ernst
Sally Evans

Leah & Ian Evison
Edy & Harvey Fenster
Gina Fitzgerald
The Flagstad Family
Peggy Flanagan
Teresa Glass
Erik Hahn
Josh Hillger
Joseph Hughes
Catherine Hurley
In honor of John Pickney James
Meg & Gary Johnson
Linda & Will Kenny
Kerrygold USA
Claire Killen
William Leonard
Mary Loegering
Rachel Mann
Erik Mansfield
Brian McHugh
Kim McKeage
Alisa & Eamonn Mee
Minnesota Craft Brewer’s Guild
Sarah & Andrew Morrow
Linda Moses
Patricia Ochs
Carol & Jim Padden
Catherine Peterman
The Ramachandran Family
Rince na Chroi Irish Dance

$25 to $99
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Scott Bartell
David Bedar
Jessie Borkenhagen
M.A. Cannon
Karen Cieminski
Kate & Dan Cole
Richard Courtney
Máirtín de Cógáin
Eileen & Mike Degnan
Patricia Drew
Mary Farquhar
Finnegan’s
Jessica & Dale Galvin
Gary Gardner
The Glazer Family

Nancy Harrer
Michael Hartford
James Herrick
Jane & Bill Horton
In honor of Dennis P. Hurley
Mary Kennedy & Mark Larson
John Levin
Lucky Irish Penny
Pat Lyles
Karolyn & Ryan MacAskill
The Magee Family
Lars Markeson
Aja McCullough Beers & Eric Beers
Maureen McGinty
Ruth McGlynn
Eileen McIsaac
Midway Liquor
Matthew Moore
Susan Moore
Nora Murphy
Jesse Nagamatsu
The Ninow Family
Buffy Nugent
Rebecca & John Nugent
O’Shea Irish Dance
Bob Padden
Sally Peters
Nate Phillips
Sarah Phillipps
Thomas Piechel
Bryce Pier
In honor of Carolyn Reilly
Suzanne & David Rhees
Patrick K. Riley
Nan Roberts
In memory of Jeannie Rogers
Cedar Schimke
Ryan Seitz
Kate Smith
Ann Somers
SteppingStone Theatre
Daniel Stumme
Thomas Liquors
Dan Vanorny
Nathan Wagner
Dave Walsh
Jerome Wenker
Jessica Woudsma
Heather Zenk