An Evening of Irish & Folk Music at the Masonic Amphitheatre
Featuring Hungry Monks, Banna de dha & Allegheny Mountain Strings |
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On Saturday, September 20 at 6:00 pm, the Masonic Amphitheatre Stage will host several groups of talented musicians including Charlotte-based performers, Hungry Monks, Banna de dha, and area children who are members of Alleghany Mountain Strings.
The Hungry Monks are centered around the creative talents of Hazel Ketchum on guitar, percussion and vocals, and John Holenko on mandolin, guitar and vocals, in addition to Jonathon Gray on bass. The Hungry Monks have performed in clubs, festivals, and concert series. Ketchum and Holenko have been playing music together for more than 25 years and have been featured on television and radio throughout the US. Featuring guitars, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, whistle, bohdran, and vocals, the Hungry Monks perform Traditional, Contemporary, and Original acoustic songs and instrumentals drawing on a wide range of influences including Medieval & Renaissance, Celtic, Folk, Blues, Classical and Jazz. Combining strong original songs and instrumental compositions with an ear toward improvisation, The Hungry Monks weave a rich tapestry of sound-melodic and rhythmic, grounded in the folk traditions of many cultures. Combined with the traditions and technique of Western Classical Music, this eclectic mix produces an interesting ensemble sound featuring acoustic sounds and beautiful vocals. The Hungry Monks have released several CD recordings on their own label, Hungry Monk Recordings. As well as being active performers, The Hungry Monks are music educators and publish their own work through Hungry Monk Publications.
Classically trained with a degree in music education, Tom Morley of Banna de dha, has played professionally in Celtic, bluegrass, classical, swing, Americana and country styles (earning a gold album for his work with country artist John Anderson). As an Irish fiddler, Tom has made multiple research and performance trips to Ireland. In over a decade, his Celtic/World music group Mithril has released six CDs, and toured and performed as guest artists with symphony orchestras. His latest Irish duo project Banna de dhá (with Charleston SC guitarist/vocalist Hazel Ketchum) has performed at Celtic festivals and concert series throughout the southeast and their CD Band of Two has received airplay on radio stations across the U.S. Tom leads Fiddle Workshops and Irish Trad Slow Sessions throughout the Southeast, and will be teaching a workshop at the Clifton Forge School of the Arts. In 2013 he took his adult fiddle group, the Irish Trad Explorers, on a tour across Ireland, where they performed in community centers, churches, and pubs, often alongside top Irish musicians. He has performed on dozens of album projects, from Celtic/World music with Mithril, Irish traditional with Banna de dhá, chamber music with the Silverwood Quartet, jazz and swing with 78rpm and New Orleans clarinetist Tim Laughlin, to an eclectic mix of all styles featured on his own solo album The Raven’s Wing. His method book, Learn to Play Irish Trad Fiddle, was published in 2012, and has received positive reviews in publications including Fiddler magazine and Irish Music magazine.
The Allegheny Mountain Strings Project founded by Jaime Letourneau & Gretta Sandberg is a program in partnership with the Garth Newel Music Center to bring comprehensive string education to the Allegheny Highlands of Virginia.
Emphasis is placed on creative learning and the inclusion of American music in early development- and the Mark O'Connor method is an important part of AMSP teaching (though not used exclusively by all instructors). Students learn to improvise- even arrange and compose, as well as chords and harmonies while gaining a solid technique for any European classical piece that comes along!
The Evening of Irish & Folk Music will also offer picnic food so families are encouraged to attend the concert and plan a picnic on the Masonic Amphitheatre grounds. Admission: Donation. Please visit www.historicmasonictheatre.com for more information. |  | Banna de dha
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