Cape Breton Day

The young Cape Breton ensemble Beolach will bring exciting playing, singing, and step dancing to Randolph Feb. 18 as part of Cape Breton Day at Chandler.

At Chandler Feb. 18

Chandler Center for the Arts is gearing up for a full day of festivities as it plays host to Cape Breton Day at Chandler Music Hall Saturday, Feb. 18. The day will include step dance workshops, an afternoon concert, a ceilidh and dinner, and an evening performance in the main hall. To reserve your space for any, or all, of the following activities, or to find out about special ticket packages, call the Chandler box office at 728-6464.

Workshops

The day will begin with two Cape Breton step dance workshops taught by musician and dancer Mac Morin, who comes from a family of step dancers and is in demand as a teacher and dancer. His ancestors were noted Cape Breton step dancers for many generations, including his mother Mary C. MacDonald Morin, and grandfather John R. 'Roddie Eddie' MacDonald. He has been dancing for over 10 years and has been a step dance instructor at the International Celtic Colours Festival held yearly in Cape Breton. Morin has also made a big name for himself as an accomplished Cape Breton-style piano player with Natalie MacMaster's band and the energetic Beòlach to name a few.

One of Cape Breton's legends, fiddler and composer Jerry Holland, will give workshops a concert and participate in a pot luck ceilidh as part of Cape Breton Day at Chandler.

A beginner's step dance workshop will be held at 10 a.m. All ages are welcome, and encouraged, to attend. For those who have more step dance experience, Morin will teach an intermediate-advanced class at 11:30 a.m. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Afternoon Concert

A concert by world-renowned Cape Breton fiddler Jerry Holland will be featured at 2 p.m. Holland's music is strongly rooted in Cape Breton, Scottish and Irish dance music traditions. An active performer and recording artist, his tunes have entered the traditional repertoire around the world. He comes by his music honestly; his father was a musical man and respectful of tradition. Jerry Sr. was over 50 years old when Jerry Jr. was born and placed the budding musician directly into a vibrant older culture, influencing him to become one of the foremost composers and players of Cape Breton music today. Mac Morin will accompany him on the piano. 

Ceilidh

Beginning at 5 p.m. there will be a traditional Cape Breton style ceilidh. A ceilidh is simply a music and dance party, where individuals perform two or three groups of tunes, and step dancers may take to the floor and show their steps. Some performers will be lined up in advance, and others will be invited to play as time permits, so bring your instruments! 

The ceilidh will be hosted by Jerry Holland and Randolph's Beth Telford. A meal catered by Travelin' Willy B.'s is included in the fee for the ceilidh-dinner package and pre-registration is required

Evening Concert

The Cape Breton sensation Beòlach will be presented on the Chandler stage at 7:30 p.m. Featuring some of the biggest names in the Cape Breton musical tradition, this young group (see separate article in this section of The Herald) gently stretches the established boundaries of the Cape Breton fiddle tradition, creating an energetic mix of Cape Breton, Scottish and Irish tunes. Their music features piano, pipes, whistles, drums, guitar and two fiddles.

This concert is sponsored by Edward Jones Investment, Champ Radio, Century 21 and Tickets for this performance are available at 728-6464, tickets@chandlermusic hall.org, Cover to Cover Bookstore in Randolph, and at the door the evening of the performance.

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