www.bc.edu/gaelicroots

Gaelic Roots Music, Song, Dance, Workshop and Lecture Series, and
John J. Burns Library Irish Music Exhibitions
Gaelic Roots Series Director: Séamus Connolly, Sullivan Artist-in-Residence

Saturday, Nov. 14 - Gasson Hall, 12:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
John McCormack Celebration, http://www.bc.edu/mccormack
Film screening, symposium, lecture, and concert, celebrating the 125th
anniversary of the birth of the legendary tenor, Count John McCormack. John
McCormack earned worldwide fame as a recitalist with a unique repertoire,
combining classical music, folk ballads and sacred music - all sung with his
distinctive tenor voice. The 12:30 p.m. film, John McCormack: the People’s
Tenor (82 minutes) will precede a 2:00 symposium led by Hankus Netsky (New
England Conservatory) and Mick Moloney (New York University). Paul Brock,
distinguished traditional musician from Athlone, Ireland, will give a
lecture at 4:00 p.m., “Impressions of the Great Irish Tenor.” At 5:30 p.m.,
the John J. Burns Library will host the exhibition, “John McCormack, Tenor:
Celebrating 125 Years,” with remarks by ethnomusicologist Ann Spinney
(Boston College). The weekend will conclude with a 7:00 p.m. concert
organized by Sullivan Artist-in-Residence Seamus Connolly. Performers
include operatic tenor Bryan Griffin, Broadway singer Ciaran Sheehan,
violinist Bonnie Bewick Brown, pianist Timothy Steele, singer and
multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Donohue, folklorist Mick Moloney, and Sullivan
Artist-in-Residence Séamus Connolly.

Thursday, Dec. 10 — Connolly House, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Concert by Damien Connolly: Irish Button Accordion, Melodeon, and Fiddle.
Originally from Co. Clare, Damien Connolly began learning the accordion when
he was 11 years old, taught by his father Martin Connolly. In 1997, Damien
took first place in both the Under-18 All Ireland accordion and melodeon
competitions in Ballina, Co. Mayo. Now residing in Connecticut, Damien
enjoys the company and musicianship of his uncle Seamus Connolly, and the
two occasionally perform together. Damien followed his debut CD, Tippin
Away, with The Irish Accordion Tutor Vol. 1.
Performer info: http://www.damienconnolly.com/about.html

Irish Music Exhibitions in the Boston College Libraries
John McCormack, Tenor: Celebrating 125 Years. (John J. Burns Library,
September 8 - December 11, 2009) This exhibition commemorates the life and
music of Irish tenor John McCormack (1884-1945) through career highlights,
family life, and collaboration with other artists. The items on exhibit are
selected from John McCormack collections in the John J. Burns Library Irish
Music Archives. More info:
http://www.bc.edu/libraries/about/exhibits/burns/mccormack.html

Mary O’Hara, Singer and Harpist: a Retrospective. (John J. Burns Library,
October 1 - April 30, 2010) Celebrating the life and work of Mary O’Hara,
this exhibition features selected items from the Mary O’Hara Papers at the
John J. Burns Library. Included are posters, recordings, manuscripts, and
the Henry Briggs harp that Ms. O’Hara acquired in 1953. More info: