September News

Dear friends of the Center for Irish Music,

Welcome to Fall Term! It's not too late to sign up for lessons and group classes. Check out our fall course catalog and register today.

You might notice some chaos when you arrive at your lessons this week. We are under construction! Follow us on social media to see our progress and make a contribution to our capital campaign for this exciting leasehold improvement project.

There are some excellent concerts happening at CJAC this month that feature some of our instructors, including Hannah Flower's CD release concert on 9/16 (with Dáithí Sproule, yours truly, and surprise guests); Seán Gavin, Oisín MacDiarmada & Patrick Doucey on 9/15; and Dorain's album launch on 10/1. Northerly Gales are performing this month as well.

Come out and support local, live music!

Norah Rendell

Executive Artistic Director

Center for Irish Music

MAKING ROOM FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

SUPPORT THE CIM'S EXPANSION & IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

The Center for Irish Music's construction project is underway! This exciting project will enable us to better serve our students and the Irish traditional music community.

Visit our website to learn more about our plans to expand into the lower level of the Celtic Junction Arts Center and create four new sound-proofed classrooms (including an acoustic recital hall); an ADA compliant external door and vestibule; a new lower lobby; secure storage for our 55+ rental instruments; and more.

The projected cost of this project is $300,000. We invite you to join us on this journey with a capital contribution to support these beautiful new classrooms and gathering spaces!

Help us meet our community's needs for years to come by clicking the "Donate Now" button below and making a tax-deductible gift in any amount. Contact Norah Rendell with questions.

DONATE NOW

FOR FALL TERM

Fall Term begins on September 6th and runs through January 29th. Programs are available in both virtual and in-person formats.

View our course catalog for a complete list of classes, or visit our events calendar to see what's coming up next.

FALL COURSE CATALOG

CELTIC CUTIES

STARTING OCTOBER 1

Join Alisa Mee this fall for Celtic Cuties, a music and movement class for ages 6 months - 4 years! We are excited to introduce CIM's brand new Celtic Cuties song book and CD for each of the four seasons. Students will receive their Fall book and CD on the first day of class.

Saturdays | 9:30-10:15am | 10/1-11/19

Saturdays | 10:30-11:15am | 10/1-11/19

Mondays | 5:30-6:30pm | 10/3-11/14

WELCOME CIM INSTRUCTOR

RYAN BEHNKE

Join us in welcoming CIM's newest instructor, Ryan Behnke! He will teach uilleann pipes, flute and whistle lessons starting in October.

Originally from St. Paul, Ryan is an experienced performer and holds a master’s degree in Irish Traditional Music Performance from the University of Limerick. His talents have won him a silver medal at the All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil in 2022, and multiple first prize awards in senior piping at the Midwest Regional Fleadh Cheoil in 2014 & 2015.

THE TRIP TO

MULLINGAR

This August, eighteen CIM students travelled to Mullingar, Ireland for the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (All Ireland Fleadh). Fourteen youths and three adults attended Monday-Thursday music classes through the Fleadh’s Scoil Éigse program and six students (plus CIM instructor Ryan Behnke) competed in the All Ireland music competitions on the weekend.

ALBUM RELEASE:

"A SHELTER FROM THE RAIN" BY BUA

"Foscadh ón mBáisteach / A Shelter from the Rain" by Bua is now available!

Daniel Neely of the Irish Echo calls this album: "another superb offering from one of the country’s outstanding bands [...] Gorgeous phrasing, beautiful tempos, inviting playing – what more could you ask for?" Click here to read the full review.

BUY ON BANDCAMP

NEW CIM CALENDAR

AND MORE ON OUR WEBSITE

In June, we launched a new website that includes an events/classes calendar and blog (plus most everything we had on the old site).

We are excited about how these new features will help to connect students, families and CIM fans with our programs, events and many activities! We hope you'll take a few minutes to explore the site on your phone or computer.

UPCOMING CIM & COMMUNITY EVENTS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

First Day of Fall Term

Center for Irish Music

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 | 8:00-9:30 PM

Oisín Mac Diarmada, Seán Gavin, and Patrick Doocey in Concert

Celtic Junction Arts Center

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 | 8:00-9:30 PM

Hannah Flowers Album Launch

Celtic Junction Arts Center

SEPTEMBER 28 - OCTOBER 1

The McNordiques (Tom Klein)

Norsk Høstfest, Minot, ND

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1 | 7:30-9:30 PM

Dòrain Album Launch

Celtic Junction Arts Center

This is not an exhaustive listing of all events in the Twin Cities Irish community. For more listings, visit the IAM Event Calendar and the Celtic Junction Arts Center.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE CIM!

The Center for Irish Music is a 501c3 nonprofit, and we depend on your support to continue passing down the tradition of Irish music and song. Please consider joining us as a volunteer or making a gift to the CIM today!