Dear Friends of the Pipers’ Gathering,
We’re pleased to announce the dates and a partial instructor lineup for the 2009 Pipers’ Gathering.
The 2009 event will be held from Friday, August 14th through Monday, August 17th, 2009 in the Snowshed Lodge at the Killington Grand Hotel in Killington, Vermont. Our instructors will include Eamonn Dillon (Uilleann pipes), Julian Goodacre (English pipes), Dick Hensold (Northumbrian smallpipes), Andy May (Northumbrian smallpipes), Chris Ormston (Border pipes), Andrea Mori (whistle), and Sarah Blair (fiddle). Negotiations are still in hand concerning another Uilleann pipes instructor and two Scottish smallpipes instructors. These will be announced in the coming months. Devotees of the Northumbrian small pipes should be over the moon at the thought of having Andy May, Chris Ormston and Dick Hensold all under the same roof for the weekend; what a line up!
In 2008, several regular attendees were unable to be with us because of the change in date to early August. In 2009, we are back to a more normal middle of the month date, so mark it down on your new 2009 calendars and plan to be with us. [color:=0000FF]Our event is only a success if you attend, the Pipers’ Gathering is for you![/color]
YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A FIDDLE INSTRUCTOR
In response to suggestions that we expand our offering to include other pipe-friendly instruments, we’re delighted to add Vermont’s own Sarah Blair to our staff as fiddle instructor.
Sarah began playing Irish fiddle in Providence, Rhode Island’s thriving traditional Irish music scene. She honed her playing as a sought-after session leader in Boston and in the world of American contra dancing. With her band The Sevens and with other ensembles, Sarah has played at festivals, concerts, and dance weeks from Alaska to Quebec to Florida. She is included in “Handy with the Stick: Fiddler Magazine’s Best of Irish fiddling,” a forthcoming book profiling top Irish fiddlers. Sarah spends much of her time teaching fiddle at home in Montpelier, Vermont.
YOUR FEEDBACK IS WELCOME!
Please feel free to write any time with suggestions for what (or who) you would like to see at the Pipers’ Gathering. Every year we send a survey to the participants following the event, but we’d also like to hear from those who have not attended about what would make the weekend more attractive to you. Write to us at info@pipersgathering.org
The Pipers’ Gathering, Inc., presenter of The Pipers’ Gathering, is registered as a non-profit corporation in the State of Vermont and is recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service as a non-profit organization under the provisions of section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code. Tax-deductible contributions are gratefully accepted by Mark Stayton, Treasurer, The Pipers’ Gathering, Inc., 97 N. 3rd Ave., Royersford PA 19468 or at http://www.pipersgathering.org/Donations.shtml
Thank you for your continued interest and support,
The Board of Directors of The Pipers’ Gathering, Inc.:
Richard Shuttleworth, Chairman
Mark Stayton, Treasurer
Dawn Littlepage, Secretary
Bill Gority
Judy Stayton