I have been an officer of the Celtic Music Association for 7 years and in that time, I have heard this very question repeatedly, “So, when are we going to have a Celtic Festival in Des Moines?” In review of the past 18 years of CMA records, a festival has been in the works in one form or another for most of that time. It appears that the critical mass for something more than a few concerts each year here had not been reached…until now.

Iowa Irish Inc., is presenting the very first sanctioned Irish dance competition here in Des Moines. The Two Rivers Feile will be on Saturday, August 7 at the Polk County Convention Center. Hundreds of dancers from all over the midwest will compete in this sanctioned event. Click the Irish Inc./Irish Dance link on the sidebar for more information. The event is open to the public to watch and to cheer on the dancers. Please come and support dance here in Des Moines by planning to attend.

If a whole day of dance were not enough, we will be hosting the band Searson that very evening (August 7) for our first concert of the 2010-2011 season. The concert will be at the Polk County Convention Center, 501 Grand Avenue, in downtown Des Moines. Tickets are available at Dahl’s food stores in the Des Moines metro and they will be available at the door. We will not be selling tickets for the Searson concert through our usual outlets.

To get a look at Searson, visit www.searson.org, or interact with them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Searson/22449268980

The momentum will not stop in August. We are most pleased to bring back the Tannahill Weavers to the friendly confines of Holy Trinity Parish Hall on Saturday, October 9. The “Tannies” have been a perennial favorite of our patrons and they are sure to please once again. To get a look at this band, visit www.tannahillweavers.com.

When the winter winds blow once more, we will invite the band Vishten, from Prince Edward Island and the Magdalen Islands to regale us with their brand of Acadian and Celtic favorites. Vishten will be at Holy Trinity on February 5, 2011. They can be found at www.vishtenmusic.com/ or you can interact with them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Vishten/9500301731

Of course, we will have a March concert. Of course it will kick off your Saint Patrick’s day in proper style. On Saturday, March 12, 2011 at Holy Trinity, we are most pleased to bring you one of the world’s pre-eminient traditional Irish bands, Lunasa. Lest you think “traditional” means leisurely and quiet, view the videos on their website, www.lunasa.ie. You can always interact with them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lunasaband.

Stay tuned right here for more information about this upcoming season. Make plans to see dancers in the daytime and Searson in the evening on August 7.

Until then, spread the word, we have reached critical mass.

Brian Smith
President

Press Release: June 12, 2010

Subject: Iowa Celtic Summer Series

Dates

July 15 Donna Reed Theater, Denison, IA

July 16 Sami Bedell Center, Spirit Lake, IA

July 18 Stephen Sondheim Center, Fairfield, IA

To say that Irish Tenor, Michael Londra has a good voice and that he uses it well is an understatement. Anyone who has heard him sing in concert, listened to his version of “Danny Boy” on YouTube along with 2.5 million others, knows the truth behind those words. Whether he’s singing lead in “Riverdancec on Broadway”, appearing in concerts like his upcoming“ Celtic Summer” series in Iowa or his recent string of dates in China and Europe with the touring production “Celtic Legends,” magnificent singing comes naturally to this Irish tenor, and the surprising fact is that having a singing career nearly eluded him.

Michael Londra was born and raised in Wexford, a small town in the South East of Ireland. “It’s the greatest little town in the world,” he declares. “It’s famous for its opera festival, and I was raised to love classical singing, light opera and musicals. When I was growing up, I was in choirs and sang as a boy soprano in many operas. But the truth is I preferred to listen to Irish folk music in pubs, and that was always getting me into trouble with my singing teachers. If I’d focused more, I’d be an opera singer now. Back then, too, there were no opportunities in Ireland to study singing full time, so I went off to be a behavior therapist for people with learning disabilities. I worked at that for 10 years, but I always sang at parties. Little by little, I began taking it more seriously, and, at 31, I took the jump with my first professional gig.”

Londra had, in fact, been doing amateur musical theater in Dublin when the opportunity arose to audition for New York director/choreographer Larry Fuller, who was casting “JFK: A Musical Drama “ for its pre-Broadway run. “I had never auditioned for anything before and, frankly, I no idea what I was doing,” recalls Londra , who auditioned in his native Wexford accent. “Fuller offered me a lead part playing Bobby Kennedy in one of Dublin’s biggest theaters. Bill Whelan, the composer of ‘Riverdance,’ heard me singing in the production and offered me the role of lead singer in the U.S. touring company of his show. It changed my life!” Londra performed with the company for 18 months and then joined a new Broadway version of the show as a chorus member. On that production’s second night, Brian Kennedy, the lead singer (and the man for whom the part had been written) fell ill. An hour before curtain rose, Londra was asked to step into Kennedy’s part. “I managed to pull it off,” he now laughs. “I had no preparation. It was like something from the movies. Eventually, I took over the role from Brian and was the lead voice in the show until the end of run 18 months later. I’m still amazed that I sang lead in a Broadway show.”

Since “Riverdance,” Londra has continued to prove himself a man of many talents, a gifted performer with unerringly true Celtic connections. He recorded a solo album, Celt, released in 2005, and contributed to the 2009 release Arias, a compilation CD that also features Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman and Luciano Pavorotti. He is also at work on a new solo recording called A Road Not Taken. A recent six-week tour of China with “Celtic Legends” earned him the moniker “Man Enya.” “They love the ethereal Celtic sound in China,” he relates. “I think Celtic people are welcomed around the globe. We connect on an emotional level with many cultures. ‘Riverdance’ gave us a new, contemporary calling card. Where else can you sob your heart out and do a jig on the same night? Good music, no matter how sad, should bring a smile to your heart. Irish music, Celtic music, does that.”

When he’s not touring the world, visiting Ireland or recording in New York, Michael Londra lives in Chicago. He fell in love with that city’s skyline and spirit during his “Riverdance“ days, and now makes his home in the historic Printers Row district in a building that once housed Elliot Ness’ headquarters.

Then there’s his work with Concern Worldwide, the humanitarian organization with a mission of eliminating poverty in developing countries. “I grew up with Concern in Ireland. I’ve always know who they were, but I got to see what they did for the first time, first hand, about five years ago when I went to Haiti,” he explains. “Once I saw the way people lived only 90 minutes from Miami, I realized I had to do whatever I could. I knew I had an audience, and it was my responsibility to step up as an artist and share what I had experienced.”

“I talk about my experiences at every concert. Without making an audience miserable it is easy to ask them to check out the website (www.concernusa.org) or to look at my film online. People are genuinely interested and it just enourages people to take a more active interest in poverty issues. I’ve gotten some sizable donations but more importantly people are learning about the great work of Concern Worldwide.”

As for his “Celtic Summer” series, audiences can expect not only gorgeous renditions of their favourite Irish ballads but thrilling jigs and reels from some of the top Irish dancers in North America and Celtic sounds from his amazing traditional band of Fiddles, Irish flutes, pipes and drum.

Being able to bring the real Irish sound to Iowa is a thrill for Michael. “I am always amazed at the audience reaction in the US”. Londra adds ”People are genuinely moved by the haunting Celtic sounds. Let’s face where else can you go where you can cry your eyes out and dance a jig on the same night”.

Quotes:

“One of the greatest Irish voices of our time” CapitalCeltic.com

“One of the best recordings of ‘Danny Boy’ in history” The Irish Emigrant

Came across an interesting band and thought I’d share their web page with you.

http://www.kila.ie/index.php

Kila will be at the Kansas City Irish Festival this September.

WOW…I can’t believe that it is over. 4 marvelous bands entertained almost 1200 concertgoers this past season. The bands came, they ate, and they played with such heart. Every single one of the bands told us that the crowds in Des Moines were responsive and extremely appreciative.

While you are here, please consider the following…

1) Sign up for an e-newsletter on the right sidebar. If you receive a regular newsletter and would rather receive an e-letter, email your mailing address to: treasurer@thecma.org.

2) Become a Friend of the CMA. We are a totally volunteer non-profit organization and while we do cover our expenses for the most part from ticket sales, our Friends of the CMA contributions help us to continue to pursue and to book the world-class artists that we do bring to the stage in Des Moines.

A $25 contribution will afford you a discount for CMA tickets and CMA goods from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. Please send your donation to the Celtic Music Association, PO Box 30001, Des Moines, IA 50310.

3) Visit us on Facebook. Post a comment.

4) Save Saturday, August 7 for a day at the Two Rivers Feile, an Irish dance competition that will be held at the Polk County Convention Center. (go to the Iowa Irish/ Irish Dance link on the sidebar for more information) The CMA will be hosting the band Searson that evening. Details about the concert will be forthcoming right here.

5) Stay tuned for more information about our next concert season. The Concert Committee of the board is negotiating with artists for our 2010-2011 season. We have some wonderful surprises in store…

6) Spread the word about the CMA. Like many organizations here in Des Moines, we rely on the best kind of advertising…word of mouth…to let our fans know that what we are up to.

7) We welcome comments on this site and on the Facebook page in order to help us get to the next level.

I still can’t believe that we are done with the season, but then again, there is so much wonderful stuff to look forward to…

Is mise le meas

Brian Smith, President

For additional information about the Celtic Music Association, please join us on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=154051530007