Programs

• Irish songs and harp instrumentals (plus narrative if desired)
• Scottish songs and harp instrumentals (plus narrative if desired)
• Celtic music of Scotland and Ireland-lecture/performance: historical sketch via the music of these countries.
• Christmas
  • Standard carols, optional historical backgrounds
  • Christmas around the world
  • Celtic Christmas
• Ancient Celtic harp (the clarsach)-its development, distinctive features, comparison with other harps around the world
• With Howie Lester, who adds fiddle, banjo and vocals. American, Irish and Scottish music.
• With Cuisle mo Chroi (Pulse of my Heart). They are 3 women playing traditional and contemporary music of Ireland. Instrumentation: flute, guitars, tin whistles, harp, bodhrán and voices.

Howie Lester & Mary

Howie, Mary's husband, ratchets the excitement up several notches. He adds the genres of old time, Cajun, klezmer (and there's much more within his horizon!), playing fiddle, banjo, and sometimes the bodhran drum. His talent gets the feet tapping. Their combined decades of experience have brought a wash of energy and beauty that have charmed audiences of every age. (You can hear him on most of the mp3 tunes featured in the Discography).

Cuisle mo Chroi

Pronounced "Cushla Ma Chree", the name is Gaelic for "Pulse of My Heart." This trio - Cathy McGrath, Pat Carey and Mary Lester - together have been playing traditional and contemporary music of Ireland in the Rochester area and beyond since 1989. They are known for their three-part vocal harmonies, heard in touching laments and lively ballads. They also play flutes, guitars, tin whistles, harp and bodhran in slow airs and energetic jigs and reels.

"Combine the soothing tones of three part vocal harmony with the delicate arpeggios of the Irish harp, calming flow of breath through the wooden flute, and the steady pulse of the penny whistle, bodhran (Irish drum) and guitar to make this trio of women, “Cuisle Mo Chroí” (Cushla Ma Chree) one of the premier folk groups in the Rochester NY area. The three, Pat Carey, Mary Lester, and Cathy McGrath, have appeared nine times in the Rochester Irish Festival, have opened for “Cherish the Ladies”, and are often found at Irish music sessions in the area. Expect to hear songs (some in Gaelic) that evoke images of Ireland, Scotland, castles and immigration, as well as songs your grandmother taught you on St. Patrick’s Day, plus a few tunes like reels, jigs, planxties and polkas tossed into the stew." From The New York State Performers and Programs database web site, www.performersandprograms.com