CELTIC ARTS FOUNDATION member news SPRING 2018 Seabeck to Seattle: From the Executive Director Winter School and the MSA We hardly had time to put away the banners and flags from the Masters of Scottish Arts concert before it’s full speed on to the next thing! Increasingly at CAF, there seem to be “multiple next things” to challenge us and keep us hopping! Currently, there are two major and frankly unforeseen projects occupying our attention—opportunities that although not exquisitely timed, are just too important to ignore. We’ll provide details in coming weeks and months, but Callum Beaumont of the current World Champion Inverary & District suffice to say complacency certainly isn’t a problem Pipe Band plays a solo performance on pipes. around the office. I’m happy to say we’re implementing more Benaroya Hall came to life with the sounds of educational activities and programs at the Littlefield pipes, drums, and fiddles on February 9th at the annual Celtic Center, including Gaelic language workshops, Masters of Scottish Arts Concert. A celebration of all academic lectures and even a beginning tin whistle things Scottish, this is one of our signature events course. Later this spring, we’ve got a series on Scottish and the only concert of its kind in North America. We history planned, along with several fabulous concerts hope you were able to take advantage of your member featuring both Scottish and Irish musicians. It’s been discount and join us at the show! rewarding to see concerts and events selling out with It was a spectacular evening both in terms of music increased frequency—a strong indicator that you all are and turnout. We were delighted to have about 1,000 taking advantage of our program offerings. people join us for the concert. Between the growing As we gear up for the Skagit Valley Highland Games numbers at the MSA Concert and the Skagit Valley in July, and all the many other Celtic Center events and Highland Games, the numbers continue to reinforce activities between now and then (plus two top secret to us that there is a huge interest and demand in the projects!), we thank you for helping to make all these community for these opportunities. wonderful things happen. The best is still to come! We are always pleased to welcome various special guests at the concert, including Ed and Laura Littlefield, our major patrons and the namesake for CAF Board of Directors & Staff our headquarters in Mount Vernon. The concert is also Bill Babb, President (Camano Island) attended by students of our Winter School program and Patty Dunn, Vice President (Anacortes) clan organizations. Tickets are available at discounted James Monroe, Secretary (Mount Vernon) prices for clans/groups of ten or more, so be sure to Jan Gould, Treasurer (Seattle) bring it up at your organization’s next meeting or at your Marilyn McLean, Director (Bellingham) clan tent this summer at the Highland Games! If there David Ryberg, Director (Mount Vernon) are any clans that wish to have a special involvement Tyrone Heade, Director (Seattle) with the MSA Concert, we are more than happy to Walter Briggs, Director (Olalla) discuss possibilities! We hope you’ll join us again next year for more Skye K. Richendrfer, Founder & Executive Director world-class Scottish music. Save the date: February 1st, Lindsay Van Houten, Program & Event Manager 2019 at 7:30PM! Roberta Bjorling, Admin/Program Assistant Celtic Arts Foundation • PO Box 1342 • Mount Vernon, WA 98273 • 360-416-4934 • CelticArts.org Get Involved: Volunteer at CAF This Spring at the LCC With more going on than ever before at the Thursday, March 1st, 7:00-9:00PM Littlefield Celtic Center, we have some exciting volunteer Spring Quarterly Ceilidh opportunities ahead that are fun ways for members Join us at this free event for an evening of music and to get involved. To learn more about any of the below community! Local band Puirt na Gael plays Celtic tunes opportunities or to get involved, please contact us at as you enjoy conversation, tea, coffee, and cookies! [email protected] or call 360-416-4934. Tuesday, March 13th, 7:30-9:30PM Volunteer servers help us at meals with setting up, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas Concert serving meals, refilling water, and washing dishes. We The award-winning duo returns to the LCC! Winner of still need a few more volunteers for our St. Patrick’s the Scots Trad Music “Album of Year,” this renowned Day Dinner and the Scotch-Tasting Gala. As a thank you duo is a must-see performance! Only 15 tickets left! for your help, meals are complimentary for servers. Volunteer shifts at the Scotch-Tasting Gala are based on Friday, March 16th, 5:30-9:30PM a first-come, first-served basis, so please get in touch 8th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Ceilidh-bration with us soon if you are interested in helping out! Enjoy traditional Irish fare, dance, and music at this The Skagit Valley Highland Games are a favorite lively celebration of the holiday! Menu features corned volunteer opportunity for many members thanks to the beef and colcannon. Tickets are over halfway sold out! family fun the weekend offers and the many different Saturday, March 31st, 7:00-9:00PM areas to help out. Some areas, like the Gates, are great Jocelyn Pettit Band Concert places to volunteer with kids--hand stamping is lots of With grace and passion, Jocelyn delivers an engaging fun for children and a great way for you and your family and uplifting performance of original and traditional to volunteer together! Set up and tear down is a great music inspired by Canadian Celtic cultures. way to get involved and volunteer for members who are Saturday, April 14th, 10:00AM-3:00PM involved with clans or otherwise busy throughout the Gaelic Language & Song Workshop weekend at the Games. We’ll send out an email in May Designed for beginners to speak--and sing!--in Gaelic describing the various volunteer areas and a registration before the end of the day! New and returning students form. Thank you in advance to all our members who welcome and encouraged to register early! sign up to help over the weekend! The Highland Games come together as one of Skagit Saturday, April 21st, 7:00-9:00PM County’s biggest annual summer festivals thanks in part Blackthorn Band Concert to the volunteer leaders who donate their time and Rooted in the traditional music of Scotland and Ireland energy, attending meetings leading up to the Games and as well as Canadian folk, Blackthorn performs high-ener- coordinating different areas of the weekend. We are in gy music and heart-wrenching airs and ballads. need of a new “Super Volunteer” to help us with setting Saturday, April 28th, 7:00-9:00PM up signs and banners around Skagit County to promote Dylan Foley & Eamon O’Leary Concert the Games. This position requires a volunteer who is Tickets will be on sale soon for this evening of Irish able to transport and set up large signs and banners. fiddle tunes by the All-Ireland Champion! The Tulip Faire in downtown Mount Vernon is another major opportunity for us to promote the Saturday, May 19th, 5:30-8:30PM Highland Games and inform the community about the 15th Annual Scotch-Tasting Gala many fun events and programs going on at the Littlefield Join us for a six-course meal where each plate is expertly Celtic Center. Volunteers help out for two hour shifts, paired with a different single-malt scotch. Be sure to answering questions about CAF and distributing flyers RSVP for this members-only dinner! about the Highland Games. This year’s festival takes Your membership at work... place on Friday, April 20th through Sunday, April 22nd. This winter, your membership will save you: Be on the lookout for an email to be sent out in March *$5 off your Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas concert for shift sign-ups! tickets We appreciate all the help we can get from our *20% off tickets to see Jocelyn Pettit, Blackthorn, and enthusiastic members--thanks for all you do! Dylan Foley & Eamon O’Leary Event Update *A seat at the Scotch-Tasting Gala Unfortunately, the April 8th Traditional Scottish Break- Keep in touch. Connect with us on fast has been cancelled due to scheduling conflicts. We Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. are looking forward to seeing you at the Fall meal! Celtic Arts Foundation • PO Box 1342 • Mount Vernon, WA 98273 • 360-416-4934 • CelticArts.org