Oidhreacht an Chláir has launched a new masterclass series in Irish traditional music in Miltown Malbay this February.
The series will start off with musician Noel Hill’s concertina masterclass on the weekend of February 3, 4 and 5 at Áras OaC, Flag Road, Miltown Malbay.
This is an intensive course aimed at the advanced and advanced intermediate students, with a concentration on style, phrasing and fingering technique.
The programme includes a 9pm concert at the Market House, Main Street, with Noel and friends on Friday, February 3, 2012, with a welcome day on Saturday, February 4  at 10am at Áras OaC. Class begins at 10.30am until 1pm and again after lunch at 2.30pm to 5.30pm, with a students’ recital that evening at 8.30pm followed by a music session at a local venue at 10pm.
On Sunday, February 5 students will have a final review with Noel from 10.30am to 11.30am and afterwards there will be a concertina exhibition with Steve Chambers focusing on the instrument, its history, repair and maintenance.
From 12.30pm to 1.30pm there will be a discussion with Barry Taylor on Clare concertina music with audio and video recordings from the OaC archives.
Further masterclasses to be organised as part of this series includes classes with Martin Hayes and Matt Molloy and full information will be issued in due course.
For more information or to pre-register, visit www.oac.ie by 6pm on Friday, January 20. Places on the course are limited and early booking is essential.
Oidhreacht an Chláir aims to conserve and promote the traditional arts in their native environment and is based at Áras OaC in Miltown Malbay, next door to the one-time home of renowned uillean piper, Willie Clancy (1918-1973).
http://www.oac.ie/site/content/concertina-masterclass