A Celtic Celebration
Sun, Mar 17 • 3 pm
Bay Philharmonic Presents:
Celtic Celebration
Sun, Mar 17 • 3 pm
The Bay Philharmonic presents all of the beauty, culture, and passion of Celtic music and dance in one unique show. You’ll see fiery Irish step dancing, soulful Scottish fiddlers and singers, and colorful Celtic storytelling. You’ll enjoy favorites like Danny Boy and John Williams’ beautiful score to “Far and Away”, and everything in between. All of this surrounded by gorgeous lighting and sets to make this a true panorama of the Celtic experience. Extra exciting is that it takes place on St. Patrick’s Day! So if you’re in the mood for a bit of the Luck O’ the Irish and want to experience wonderful Celtic musicians and dancers, this show will fill your pot with gold!
Jung-Ho Pak, Conductor
Annie Dupre, Vocals/Violin
Caroline McCaskey, Award Winning Scottish Fiddler
Culann’s Hounds, Irish Band
San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers
Todd Denman, Irish Uilleann Pipes
Kennelly School of Irish Dance
Bill Wolaver, Piano/Arranger
Dunsmuir Scottish Dancers
Chabot College Performing Arts Center
25555 Hesperian Blvd
Hayward, CA 94545
MAP
Run Time: Approx. 2 hrs. with a 20 minute intermission
Show Sponsors
Meet our performers
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Annie Wolaver-Dupre is one of the pre-eminent violinists and vocalists working today. In 2002, she began touring as lead singer and first violinist with the Annie Moses Band, a group comprised of her six siblings.
Since that time, she has starred in multiple PBS specials including the Emmy-nominated The Art of the Love Song, released by Warner Classics, and has recorded over a dozen albums including the chart-topping American Rhapsody, This Glorious Christmas, and Tales From My Grandpa's Pulpit. She has toured extensively, performing in many world-class venues.
A classical prodigy, Annie won numerous state and national competitions from an early age. At 18 she was awarded a scholarship to the Juilliard School’s collegiate program. Annie carries a passion for educating young people in music and the arts. For over twenty years, she had co-directed the Annie Moses Summer Music Festival, a week-long arts event that culminates in multiple professionally produced shows, all featuring young artists.
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A native daughter of the genre-bending West Coast music scene, 2019 U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion and a two-time International Musical Saw Champion Caroline McCaskey is equally at home in the regional traditional, improvising and classical music worlds. In high demand as a teacher and performer throughout North America and author of the AltStrings Fiddle Method, she holds degrees in music composition and performance, as well as Suzuki teaching certification in violin and cello.
Caroline is the fiddler for the dance bands Tartan Suite and Stringfire!, and performs regularly with Boston-based guitarist and banjo player Larry Unger. Her other duo projects include Moonrise, a classical violin and guitar duo based in Sacramento, CA and Secret Oaks, a jazz- and folk-infused string duo based in Fort Collins, CO. An enthusiastic and inspiring teacher, she maintains a private studio online and in the South Bay Area, and teaches at workshops and camps throughout the country, including Mike Block String Camp, Fiddlekids Day Camp, Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp, Sierra Fiddle Camp and Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School.
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Culann's Hounds have been playing shows for almost two decades. Starting their run in a small Irish bar in the inner Sunset of San Francisco called The Blackthorn Tavern in 1999, their steady rise has been a credit to their love of the music and ability to consistently deliver hard driving quality shows with a strong dose of rebel attitude, humor, and a few drops of whiskey.
Five albums later they have multiple national and international tours under their belt in addition to headlining festivals and large music venues. The thread that has held the band together is the same one that has drawn the members back to their roots: love of traditional Irish music.
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World-renowned Alasdair Fraser founded The San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers in 1986 and since has grown to over 250 members performing Celtic music from Scotland, Ireland, Galicia, and Brittany, as well as tunes from Scandinavia, Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, and even Quebecois.
Performers range from beginners to award-winning instrumentalists playing fiddle, cello, bass, guitar, mandolin, harp, flute, pennywhistle, drum, pipes, and voice (and even harmonica, concertina, accordion, nyckelharpa, tenor banjo, and others on occasion).
Scotland has a long and noble musical tradition. In order of antiquity, the three most important Scottish instruments are the harp, bagpipe, and fiddle. In the days of Mary Queen of Scots the “rebec” was in vogue, a bowed instrument. When the Italian violin developed, it took immediate hold in Scotland. As the new fiddle was beckoning the Scots to dance, a newly reformed Church (now Presbyterian) was condemning the instrument as a vehicle of licentiousness. The gentry would not give up their dance, and rich and poor alike side-stepped the clergy’s protestations. All over the land, from Duke’s ballroom to shepherd’s fields, the power of the fiddler’s “up driven bow” made the success of the gathering.
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Todd Denman has been performing the uilleann pipes since 1982 and is recognized as an American master of the instrument. A rare form of bagpipe native to Ireland, the uilleann pipes are bellows inflated and have the largest musical and harmonic capacity of all bagpipes in the world. Having received an NEA endowment as a young man in 1982, Todd studied in Ireland and performed in Europe, Ireland and across the US. His recordings have reached Top-10 charts and received wide acclaim in both Ireland and America. His theatrical performances have sold out and he has been a California Arts Council Touring Artist for many seasons.
Combining American clogging and Irish step dancing with original choreography, Todd Denman and Aniar perform a fully theatrical musical show, entitled Soulstice. Playing in a variety of advanced piping styles, from traditional to modern improvisations, including both period "flat" pitch and modern instruments, Todd's music combines drive and detail with a musical originality.
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Bill Wolaver received his BM in piano performance from Oklahoma City University. He is a prolific and renowned composer and arranger in Nashville, TN, working with multiple publishing companies. He and his wife, Robin, have been involved with Christian music over 20 years, with songs, musicals, and arrangements published by a number of leading Christian publishers. Together, they composed "Make His Praise Glorious", recorded by Sandi Patty and nominated for Dove Award for ‘Song of the Year.’ In addition, they have received an ASCAP Award for ‘Inspirational Song of the Year.’ He is also the pianist/composer/arranger for the Annie Moses Band.
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The Kennelly School started in 1959 and Patricia Kennelly assumed the role as director in 1975. The Kennelly School is proud to have won titles in solo, ceili, figure and drama categories at the North American Championships, All Ireland, European, Great Britain, British National, and All Scotland Championships, and her students have also placed on the podium at the World Championships.
In addition to participating in competitive events, students have many opportunities to perform. From private receptions for Irish dignitaries to major musical events in arenas like the Hollywood Bowl or dancing with great bands such as the Chieftains, DeDannaan, Eileen Ivers, Arcady, Danu, and so many more, the school has a rich history in performing and the promotion of traditional Irish music.
Patricia plays the button accordion and was taught by Joe Cooley from Co. Galway. She is an adjudicator and grade examiner with the Irish Dancing Commission. Patricia is committed to excellence in a fun and enjoyable atmosphere of learning.
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As the mist curls over the green hills, the sound of a lone bagpipe echoes a haunting tune through the valley; a shepherd and his two border collies drive laggard sheep home; the last rays of sunlight shine golden on the stone walls of Edinburgh Castle. Now is the time to dance, as the people of Scotland have for centuries.
Stroll with us down a narrow street, towards the sound of fiddles, accordions, drums, and laughter. Push open the door and you’re swept into the hall. The dance has begun, a lively reel, an elegant strathspey, and then a display of the dancing of the Highland Sword Dance, the Highland Fling, and the Seann Triubhas.
Photos by Scott Capen
