Symphony for kids showcases Celtic culture
Posted By Joelle Tomek/EXAMINER STAFF
Posted 2 months ago
A Celtic Adventure promises to be a feast for the senses for both the young and the young at heart Saturday at the Winspear Centre.
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Edmonton's lads and lasses can be Irish, Scottish or Welsh for a day this weekend.
On Saturday, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is hosting A Celtic Adventure, a kid-friendly hour of music and dancing from the British Isles.
The 2 p.m. orchestra matinee features a guest bagpiper and Edmonton's Knock School of Irish Dance.
"If you're into Celtic music at all, you'll find something for everyone," says Lucas Waldin, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra's resident conductor.
Waldin will co-lead the performance, along with William Eddins, the orchestra's music director and former principal guest conductor of Ireland's RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra.
The orchestra has performed Celtic concerts in the past, but A Celtic Adventure will be the first of its kind for children.
"I think the school of dance (performance) will be extremely popular," Waldin says.
He expects the bagpipe component to be another highlight of the show.
"It's extremely loud," he says. "It's about the volume of an orchestra."
While most Edmontonians have listened to live bagpipes outdoors at a parade or ceremony, hearing the instrument in the Winspear Centre's acoustically engineered setting will be a new experience for most, Waldin says.
"It's an instrument that you don't usually hear on the orchestra stage," he says.
The symphony itself will perform pieces from the popular Lord of the Dance, as well as selections from the Irish Suite.
The bagpiper will chime in with the orchestra during a piece called An Orkney Wedding, With Sunrise.
A Celtic Adventure also features a composition by former Edmonton Symphony Orchestra composer in residence, Allan Gilliland, called Loch na Beiste.
Before the performance, children can take in pre-concert activities, beginning at 1:15 p.m. in the main lobby. There should be something for every taste.
Kids can make musical crafts, experiment with different sounds and learn about various sections of the orchestra.
"If you come about 20 minutes before the concert, it's going to be complete mayhem," Waldin says. "It's really fun."
Admission to A Celtic Adventure is $21 to $29 for adults and $13 to $17 for children. Tickets are available through the Winspear Centre box office at 780-428-1414.
jtomek@edmontonexaminer.com
