Community Arts Schools and Conservatories
ACHF Arts Education
Develop and increase music programming to attract a wide range of participants--from young children to retirees. As student enrollment has grown, so too has the demand for new programs for our students. Increase the number and depth of early childhood music education offerings, the number of summer camp programs for adults and children, and the number and types of performing opportunities for the ensembles. Success was measured by the number of new courses created (4), the number of students enrolled in these courses (39), and retention from one semester to the next (90% of children in the ensembles and Tin Whistle Troupe continued.) Musical progression was also evaluated and one student who started in the beginner ensemble was able to progress to the intermediate ensemble by the second term. All students advanced in the Tin Whistle Troupe program. 2: As the only comprehensive Irish music program in the state, the Center for Irish Music is committed to bringing its music and workshops to people who do not have access to our programs, either from geographical distance or mobility issues. The Center for Irish Music plans to expand its involvement in the Farm on Mathias Celtic Fest in Brainerd by bringing a larger performing ensemble and offering more music workshops. It also is bringing music to nursing homes, hospitals and community events across the Twin Cities. The success of outcome two was measured by the number of public performances (20), the number of students participating in these performances (53 age range from 5 to 70+), and the number of audience members reached (estimated at over 250,000 including the large festival performances and TV broadcast audience.)
The Center for Irish Music achieved this outcome by adding two performance ensemble classes in 2013, developing its Tin Whistle Troupe program, and entering into a visiting artist residency with famed accordion player Paddy O'Brien. One new ensemble was a beginner course for children under twelve, and one was an intermediate ensemble for children and youth. Both ensembles are feeder courses for the more advanced youth ensemble. The Tin Whistle Troupe program for 6-9 year-olds, developed by Executive Director Norah Rendell, doubled in size in less than a year. The students progressed from level one to level three. The visiting artist residency with Paddy O'Brien allowed both youth and adult to study and learn tunes over a nine-month period. The residency culminated in a public performance at the Minnesota Irish Music Weekend in June 2013, and a larger public concert in Fall 2013. The tunes learned are also entering into the larger repertoire of the performance ensembles so the public can enjoy these largely unknown tunes. 2: The Center for Irish Music is committed to sharing its music with the community, especially in areas with limited access to Irish music. The outcome was focused on bringing Center for Irish music programming to the Farm on Mathias Celtic Festival in Brainerd, and music to hospitals, nursing homes and community events. This outcome was achieved as the Center for Irish Music participated in the Farm on Mathias Celtic Festival in July 2013, sending one instructor Todd Menton, and several students to perform. The Center also performed at several large community events including: the Rochester Irish Music Festival, the Irish Fair of Minnesota, Art Under Glass, at the Como Zoo Conservancy, 2013 Step Up for Down's Syndrome Walk at Como Park, and Grand Old Day. Center for Irish Music ensembles also performed at four nursing homes/senior housing centers in 2013. A large broadcast audience was reached in two performances by the Advanced Youth Ensemble. The youth performed on WCCO's Morning Program in March 2013 and at the Give to the Max Day live video performances at Mall of America in November 2013.
Other, local or private