Boxwood Canada

Irish Flute
1

I just found out the dates for Boxwood Canada this year are July 19-26.
Can anyone compare the Boxwood camp to Swanannoa or Augusta?
Aside from the general emphasis on flutes?
Teachers? Housing? Atmosphere?

Thanks -

Mike

2

It isn’t just an emphasis on flutes. That’s a huge focus of the week. It’s why it’s called “Boxwood.”
“…celebrating and sharing the music of the flute.”

[However] While the week in Lunenburg emphasizes the flutes, whistles, and recorders and their musical traditions, the festival encourages a multidisciplinary approach, inviting a variety of artists, students and players of all instruments at all levels – novice and experienced.
2008 Faculty and Guest Artists

  • Robert BIGIO - flute maker, scholar and author
  • Edmund BROWNLESS - bel canto voice, shape note singing
  • Pierre CHARTRAND – social dancing, stepdance, bones, bodhran
  • William COULTER - guitar
  • Anne-Marie GARDETTE – renaissance & baroque dance
  • Rod GARNETT- flute fundamentals, ethnic flutes
  • Adrianne GREENBAUM – Klezmer flute
  • David GREENBERG - Cape Breton & baroque violin
  • Brian FINNEGAN - Irish whistle, flute
  • Betsy MacMILLAN - viola da gamba, ensembles
  • David McGUINNESS – harpsichord, piano, harmonium, listening
  • Chris NORMAN - director, traditional & early flutes, small pipes
  • Gilles PLANTE – recorder, bagpipe, baroque & renaissance flute

http://www.boxwood.org/canada.html

3

At a recent workshop I attended Chris Norman mentioned that Conal O’Grada will be a guest instructor this year (although I’m not sure if this has been finalized). Should be a good week.

4

Celtic week at Swannanoa is the week before that.
http://www.swangathering.org/

Lewis

5

Why wait 6 months? Chris Norman is holding a Boxwood festival in New Zealand in 3 weeks time.
Cheers
Graeme

6

The reason to wait six months would be that Boxwood New Zealand has a heavy emphasis on baroque music, whereas Boxwood Canada usually focuses more on folk traditions (but usually has a baroque instructor also). So which one to go to depends on your interests and what you want get out of Boxwood.

7

I can not compare Boxwood to the others because, of the Festivals on your list, I have only been to Boxwood. I can tell you that it is a wonderful time: classes throughout the day, and session every night. Each evening there is a concert or a dance, and then the session. Some folks billet in with some local folks but my wife and I arranged lodging at a B&B in town, which was very convenient. Meals and the sessions are held in the local Fire company social room - which is nice.

Here’s a flickr sight with pictures:

http://flickr.com/groups/805966@N20/

8

Thanks for the info on Boxwood Canada - I would really like to go.
Does anyone know when they usually have the instructor/class list available?
Looks like they still have 2008 info on the website.