BIS revives a tradition
Variety show tonight in honour of St. Patrick’s Day
The Benevolent Irish Society is reviving a long-standing tradition, a variety show in honour of St. Patrick’s Day and it will be tonight at the Irish Cultural Centre on 582 North River Rd., Charlottetown.
On stage will be an array of fiddlers, pipers, step dancers and singer, as well as a recitation and a sing-along of favourite Irish tunes.
The event is hosted by Patrick Fitzgerald, who is the BIS president, along with Dr. Cian O Morain.
For the first time, the BIS is partnering with Holland College School of Performing Arts with five students performing in the show.
Students in the music performance program study Celtic music as part of their curriculum.
They learn about the history of the Celtic musical tradition and they prepare and perform pieces in their Celtic ensembles. The show will feature students from near and far, including Luis Anselmi, mandolin (Venezuela); Tuli Porcher, fiddle (British Columbia); Diego Perez, cajon drum (Mexico); Enrique Lloreda, guitar (Columbia) and Calum Brydon, bagpipes (P.E.I.).
Piper and fiddler Thomas Harrington is from Glenholme, N.S., and currently lives in Stratford. He plays fiddle, bagpipes and tin whistle, and his passion for Celtic music has been quickly welcomed into the music community on P.E.I. He has played with various groups such as the 78th Highlanders Halifax Citadel Pipe Band, SQUID Precision Drumming, and folk band ‘Finnan Haddie’. He often plays alongside Island musicians, Ward MacDonald, Cian O Morain and Mary MacGillivray.
O Morain hails from Country Kerry in Ireland, but is now the family physician in North Rustico. He also holds a masters degree in music from Limerick University. He and his partner, Mary McGillivray, often entertain local audiences, accompanying their singing on guitar and squeeze box. He quite often will add in a bit of Irish storytelling to the delight of an audience. Step dancers who will be accompanied by fiddle music are Cailyn MacAulay, Bethany Pineau, Dominik Pineau and Libby Smith from Roberts Academy of Dance. Kevin Chaisson of the Chaisson Trio will provide accompaniment on the piano. Lana Quinn will be performing on the harp.
The evening will also feature a 50/50 draw, which includes a very special “pot of gold”. A light lunch is served during the intermission.
Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show runs 7:30-10:30 p.m. Admission is $15 at the door, with children 12 and under admitted for $5.
Everyone is welcome. For more information, call 902-5663273.