Thursday, September 29, 2016

Celtic Fiddle Festival to Perform at Frostburg’s Palace Theatre

Set to perform a “perfect storm of the finest Celtic music your ears will ever encounter,” the Celtic Fiddle Festival quartet will showcase a fascinating juxtaposition of international and individual styles in a concert at Frostburg’s historic Palace Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 8, at 7:30 p.m.
The group, which is touring the U.S., is made up of three fiddlers and an accompanying guitarist from various Celtic regions. The show is organized by Mountain City Traditional Arts, a program of Frostburg State University.
The Celtic Fiddle Festival released its first CD in 1993, beginning with two great friends and fiddlers – one Scottish, the other Irish. The fiddling duo earned much success after receiving a chance in New York City. From that point on, the group expanded and performed for packed houses across the U.S. and Europe. At each concert, solo performances demonstrate the uniqueness of the individual styles of music. The sounds from each musician represent their regional repertoires. Then together, they collaborate to provide dazzling energy and subtle grace. The quartet combines its considerable talents, rich musical traditions and spontaneous humor and, in return, experiences sold-out tours and standing ovations.
The Washington Post recognizes the group as “three of the finest folk violinists anywhere.” Kevin Burke is a world-renowned Irish fiddler who plays the highly ornamented style of Country Sligo. He is a recipient of the NEA’s National Heritage Award and one of The Celtic Fiddle Festival’s original musicians. Christian LemaĆ®tre joined the original duo early on to share the beautiful music of Brittany, France. He honed his fiddling skills by playing the hypnotic Breton melodies at night dances throughout Brittany. He is a founding member of the group Kornog. Charlie McKerron, the Scottish member, has won awards as a player and a composer. He is considered to be among the finest in a land famed for extraordinary fiddlers. G Nicolas Quemener is a master open-tuning guitarist from Angers, France. He studied percussion in the National School of Music, has been a part of many superb Celtic bands, including Arcady and Kornog, and continues to play and record with many acclaimed Breton and Irish artists.
Tickets can be purchased at the door, costing $20 for general admission and $5 for students and children.
Dedicated to the education, sales, documentation and perpetuation of the traditional arts in the mountain region, Mountain City Traditional Arts is a program of Frostburg State University, with support from FrostburgFirst, the Allegany Arts Council and the Maryland Traditions Program of the State Arts Council. For more information, email mountaincitytradarts@gmail.com or call 301-687-8040.
Situated in the mountains of Allegany County, Frostburg State University is one of the 12 institutions of the University System of Maryland. FSU is a comprehensive, residential regional university and serves as an educational and cultural center for Western Maryland. For more information, visit www.frostburg.edu or facebook.com/frostburgstateuniversity. Follow FSU on Twitter @frostburgstate.
FSU is committed to making all of its programs, services and activities accessible to persons with disabilities. To request accommodations through the ADA Compliance Office, call 301-687-4102 or use a Voice Relay Operator at 1-800-735-2258.