April 16, 17, 18. There’s a great lineup of pipers making their way to Saint Louis, including Benedict Koehler, Michael “Piper” Cooney, Leo Rickard, and Tom Clarke as well as a few other notables who’ll reveal themselves that weekend. All the details are at http://www.tionol.org
Mike Mullins
Reveal themselves??!?!?!
Now I’m really looking forward to this weekend…
K –
Are you coming down? Oh, this is just getting better and better. 
Hi Cathy – Yep! For years, Mike has been telling me I should come out there to the event, and I guess it would be a shame to miss the aforementioned revelations…uh, I mean, revelry. So I’m finally going for it. Are you going to be there? (Any suggestions on a moderately priced and well located place to stay?)
Awesome! Yup, I’ll be there – I’m going for the whole enchilada and taking the Thurs. - Sat. reedmaking class (needless to say, I’m bringing plenty of first aid supplies). It really is a nice weekend, and St. Louis is a great town. Most people generally stay in Forest Park, which is kind of between Schlafly’s Brewery (where Friday night concert and weekend sessions are) the concert hall, and school (where the classes are). It’s about a 15-drive to everything from there (provided you don’t get lost). The Holiday Inn and Drury Inn plus several other hotels are there … I’d say you probably won’t find anything lame in Forest Park, so just pick the best price.
For the last three or four years we’ve stayed in Clayton, which is pretty much next to Forest Park and has suited us just fine. It’s a great walking neighborhood with galleries, restaurants, etc. We’re staying at the Crowne Plaza in Clayton for $69 a nite – I booked through Hotwire, so it’s always a bit of a gamble, but for at least three years I’ve just picked the 3 1/2 star hotel in Clayton for $69 a night and bingo, it turns out to be the CP. Anyway, we’ve stayed there off and on over the years and always felt it was a great value for the money. The last two years we’ve stayed at a more expensive place called The Seven Gables Inn in Clayton b/c it’s awesome and I got a great deal on it through Hotwire, but since I’m staying longer and having to fly in and rent a car this year I went for cheaper accommodations. So while I can’t guarantee the Crowne Plaza hasn’t like, turned into a wreck in the last two years, it was terrific before the Seven Gables interlude, especially for the price!
(I hope all that makes sense; it’s hard to explain so PM me if you want me to try to clarify better)
Anyway, I’m so glad you’re coming. It really is a nice weekend. Very laid back and lots of nice people. The Sunday sessions at McGurk’s are always terrific, too, so if you’re flying in you might want to book your flight home for a little later on Sunday …
Can’t wait to see ya!
P.S. BTW, anent the revelations … er … revelry … er … I will not be participating in the naked piping this year.
Jim Wenham’s Reed Making class is very good! He’s a superb teacher who has loads of no-nonsense instruction. I’ve seen in (over the years now) take beginners from not ever having gouged, to completing a finished working reed.
Aside from the reed making class, Mike Mullins runs a class tionol and has for now more than 10 yrs (I’ve attended all of them)! I cannot recommend this gathering highly enough!
I’ll be gigging at McGurks for the month of April so there really is no reason why I shouldn’t make this event this year. I can’t wait.
Morning piping classes will be beginner, intermediate 1, intermediate 2, and advanced. In the afternoon, for the intermediate and advanced classes, there will be breakouts into sessions on slow airs, regulator playing and rhythm and phrasing. Sean Ryan will be here in addition to our other teachers so class sizes will be small and you should be able to come away from the weekend with plenty to work on.
Ack! So many options!!!
Everybody and everything in my family better behave this year! I do NOT want to miss this again!
Lots of room in piping classes. Great opportunities with some awesome teachers
..don’t miss this! It is a great opportunity! The concert hall is amongst the best rooms for acoustic music in the world!
we do our best.
Hey, Mike – I see Clodagh Ryan is going to be there. Will Sean be coming with her? I really enjoyed his set at the East Coast Tionol, and he’s an awesome flute player, too.
yes Sean will be there. Pat Broaders is also coming. A great piper in bouzouki disguise.
:happy dance:
New soon-to-be-piper, here.
I just moved to Kansas in November and will be trekking out to attend the harp portion of the workshop. I’m awaiting a check from Uncle Sam to complete my purchase of a 1/2 set.
At any rate, it would be great to meet some folks, even though I’ll be sans pipes.
You’ll be most welcome. Lots of people to talk to including some pipemakers.
Only two weeks left to go!!! 
One week now, I hope to meet folks at the Sunday brunch at McGurks. I’ll be jamming with Ian Walsh.