Programs

SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

Willow Brae's school and lyceum programs can be adapted for various age groups, and are well suited for lecture-performance series, special interest groups, libraries, community centers and festivals, as well as schools, elementary through college. School programs can be scheduled through Young Audiences of MN/COMPAS Global Arts, or through us directly: CONTACT

A Celtic Breeze
"Celtic" can describe music from a number of areas, including Ireland and Scotland, regions of France, Northern Spain, Wales and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. "A Celtic Breeze" presents traditional music on a fascinating variety of wind-powered instruments, including wooden flutes, tin whistles, concertina, an array of bagpipes, gemshorn and voice, combined with Celtic harps. In a program intriguing to both youth and adults, the audience learns how air, wood and strings are transformed into music and what makes the airs, dance tunes, and songs "Celtic."

Irish Music and Dance
The music of Ireland comes alive with the addition of an Irish step dancer from a Twin Cities Irish dance academy. Through history and lore, students gain insight into Irish culture, learn how the dance and music are combined, and discover the meaning of the dancer's traditional costuming (including why they are always changing shoes!). Jigs, reels, hornpipes and airs are demonstrated on a variety of instruments, voice and dancing feet.

Magical Musical Stories
Enchanting Celtic stories rich with expressive musical interludes. For children, families and groups of all ages. Interactive options are offered for the wee folk (kids).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The programs above are offered separately or in conjunction with concert appearances.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the Community and School Programs:

"What a pleasant evening of Irish (and Scottish) music was performed by you and Laura MacKenzie, along with the spirited step-dancing of Lilli and Anna! It's always a refreshing learning experience to attend this kind of event, and we do so much appreciate your gifts as talented musicians as well as gifted teachers." -- audience members at St. Cloud Great River Library concert

"Our membership expressed great appreciation for your musical program and for the grace and humor you used to good advantage." - American Association of University Women

"Your penny whistle tunes made eyes and mouths open wide. Being the day before our Easter break, the boys and girls were full of extra energy, but you seemed to charm them." -- Belle Plaine Elementary School

"The sad songs made me feel like crying. It was so real and wonderful...The happy music made me feel like I was going to fly away." - Fourth grader, Halmstad Elementary School

"(Andrea) related very well with the kids and the program's pacing was excellent." - Music Teacher, Pullman Elementary School

"Our students loved her and our teachers felt her program was outstanding. Bravo, and thank you, Andrea!" - Music Teacher, Cedar Elementary School

"Your wonderful talent with the unusual wind instruments was informative and a special treat. It was a great break from the traditional 'speech'." - North Country Library Cooperative