Podcast Episode #10 Online Festivals and Theatrical Events
Episode #10 podcast
This is Moon Over the Trees Music and Theatre Productions® Podcast’s 10th episode. I am so thrilled at how this listening community has grown so much in such a short time. The theme music for this podcast was co-written by myself and my friend Arish Khan, also known as King Khan. This was written during the COVID lockdown and the record will be released later this year. This track is called, “A Hard Rain’s Gotta Fall” and it’s off of the Space Jazz album, The Infinite Ones. I’ll let you know when it’s released. I’m so thrilled that Arish asked me to play on this album with so many other talented musicians.
SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
This whole episode is about sharing. This episode was inspired by my friend, and amazing Scottish harper, Rachel Hair, whom I interviewed in an earlier podcast episode(Season 1, Episode 2). She started putting together a list of festivals and workshops going on this summer and this fall that are pivoting and going online. I want to share that list with you.
And because music and theatre really go hand in hand, and since I work in theatre and I love it so much, I wanted to mention some exciting theatre events that are happening online and ways you can support the theatre community.
THE HUDSON VALLEY SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
So, first up is The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. They are located in Garrison, NY, which is about an hour train ride from New York City. They are right on the Hudson River. You can check under their “Events” menu. Check out their, “Tent Talks”, they have something called, “Shakespeare Shaken and Stirred” and every summer they have this thing called the, “Bake Off”. They invite professional and non-professional playwrights to come in and write a play. They give you, what they call “ingredients” which are certain things that they need you to add to your stories to give you inspiration for your writing. And if the winner is chosen those plays get performed by professional actors.
These performances usually take place at the Philipstown Depot Theatre, but this year they will be performed via Zoom.
HAMILTON
On July 3rd, 2020 you will finally be able to get those tickets to, “Hamilton” thanks to Disney+.
STREAMING BROADWAY SHOWS
Find information on www.theatermania.com/guide/theatrical-streaming-content-broadway-lockdown
Additional information on Broadway and Off-Broadway productions and streaming www.playbill.com/coronavirusupdate
MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE
Erik Ask-Upmark “Polska Presto” off of his album, “Winter is Coming”
Grainne Hambly, “Flying to the Fleadh” off of her album, “Between the Showers”
Other traditional music played in this episode was recorded by me.
UPCOMING INTERVIEWS
Nicolas Carter www.nicolascarter.com/
Swedish multi-instrumentalist Erik Ask-Upmark erikaskupmark.bandcamp.com/
Martha Gallagher www.adkharper.com/
William Jackson www.harpagency.com/artist1.htm
Corrina Hewat corrinahewat.com/
Tristan Le Govic http://www.tristanlegovic.eu/
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATES
Wishing you the best. I’m so fortunate to have worked with all of you in music and theatre.
Break a leg!
APP REVIEW
Vulcan Harp App
apps.apple.com/us/app/star-trek-vulcan-harp/id740110925
I am a techie and a Trekkie. This is a Star Trek Vulcan Harp. It’s a $2 app for your iPad. It lets you play a virtual Vulcan harp like the one Spock played in the Original series. It also lets you record and it has tracks to accompany yourself. It also lets you set the key or mode you want to play in and it lets you record your creations.
FESTIVALS AND MUSICAL EVENTS ONLINE
On the Facebook Celtic Harp Group Rachel Hair started collecting a list of some available online harp festivals. Even if you missed them this year, a lot of these festivals have content that you can stream months after the event has passed. Or you can put them on your calendar for next year.
INVENTION AND ALCHEMY
A concert that harpist and composer Deborah Henson-Conant created and performed with The Grand Rapids Symphony. The concert is being re-released on July 10, 2020. Deborah chats with me about the concert in (Season 1 Episode 8). This is a fundraiser for the symphony.
DHC’s Invention and alchemy with Grand Rapids Symphony (Season 1, Episode 8)
Here’s a link for a preview:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-90lzAEmeY
And How to get your free online access to the event:
ds0n9pwn.pages.infusionsoft.net/
Here’s a link to the DHC Camac electric harp that she uses in this performance www.camac-harps.com/en/harps-en/electric/dhc-36-blue-light/
MARTHA GALLAGHER AND JUST A MOMENT MUSIC
Martha Gallagher is one of my upcoming interviews. She is a harpist, performer, composer, and teacher who makes her home in the NY Adirondacks. She has a lot going on, but I wanted to mention her Just a Moment project where every day she delivers a short instrumental meditation on the harp to your email inbox. A wonderful way to start out your day.
FESTIVALS
Ohio Scottish Arts School June 29th-July 3rd ohioscottishartsschool.com/
Catskills Irish Arts Week starting July 12th www.catskillsirishartsweek.com/
Not just harp. They offer classes in fiddle, guitar, concertina, etc. When the festival is happening in person the town of East Durham, NY is filled with music. Wherever there is a space for musicians to sit a session is bound to start. Some sessions going on ‘till 4 in the morning. They aren’t meeting in person this year, but you can check out classes with world renowned musicians from all over the world.
Common Ground on the Hill June 28 - July 3, July 5-10, July 12-17 I’ve never been, but I’ve heard great things about it. www.commongroundonthehill.org/traditions-weeks-home.html
Somerset Folk Harp Festival July 16 - 19, A mixture of both live and pre-recorded workshops, with a HUGE selection of presenters, styles and levels www.somersetharpfest.com/
I’ve been working at the Somerset Folk Harp Festival for the past ten years, so it’s near and dear to my heart. This year, yes, we are online.
-40 live zoom workshops
-100 pre-recorded workshops with topics from celtic harp, jazz harp, latin american harp, historical harp lectures, therapeutic harp, and more
-There’s also an online vendor hall where you’ll get to meet the vendors and have a chat with them and in some cases you’ll be able to take a virtual tour or their workshops.
-There will also be concerts on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at lunchtime and in the evenings as well as a talent show, Irish Session, Scottish Session, and a special Carolan Session to celebrate the 350th birthday of the famous Irish composer, Turlough O'Carolan
-With the full festival registration you’ll be able to watch and rewatch ALL of the workshops until the end of the year! So, if you’ve ever been in the situation where you wanted to take a class, but it conflicted with another class, worry no more! You’ll have the opportunity to take as many of the classes as you like till the end of the year.
If Scottish harp and language interest you the, Fèis Phàislig July 21 pre-recorded videos includes an improvers clarsach (Scottish harp, not wire) class and an advanced class (which has myself as tutor, so you know it'll be harp friendly!) feisphaislig.com/
Cromarty Harp Village September 18th-20th is run by the super talented Corrina Hewat Not sure what is happening with this festival yet, but you can check for updates at corrinahewat.com/
www.cromartyartstrust.org.uk/the-harp-village
Dusty Strings: Harp Seattle October 2020 store.dustystrings.com/p-6681-harp-seattle-2020.aspx
Sue and Ray, the founders of Dusty Strings in Seattle are such warm giving folks. They even converted part of their workshop so they could make protective face shields for hospital workers. Oh, and their instruments are GORGEOUS.
Island Mountain Arts support-imarts.com/upcoming-workshops/2020/8/17/34th-international-harp-and-cello-school Is going online this year.
Two of the instructors: Sunita Staneslow (Season 1 Episode )
Tristan Le Govic (Season 1 Upcoming episode)
Cairde Na Cruite June 28th - July 3rd www.cairdenacruite.com/ Plenty of great online concerts
Maeve Gilchrist will performing on July 1, 2020 Check out my interview with Maeve (Season 1 Episode 4) And don’t miss her teaching at The Somerset Folk Harp Festival. She also has a book and an album coming out this year.