Touring Group 2022/2023: Winter Update
The Young Tradition Vermont Touring Group at Vermont Folklife Winter 2023 update begins with a few photos from the terrific December rehearsal block.
The Touring Group members came together for three days to rehearse & arrange this season's tunes and songs, and also enjoyed the opportunity for some jamming, contra dancing, and riddle-puzzling! Many thanks to Lake Champlain Waldorf School for sharing their space with the Touring Group.
If you'd like to hear the Touring Group in action right away, check out these links: Rector Set Performance, Contradance Jam, or this YouTube playlist.
WHAT'S NEXT?
On February 9th, the Touring Group is participating in an online exchange with students from Higashi High School in Tottori, Japan. February 24th-26th is the next rehearsal block, this time at the Elley-Long Music Center in Colchester. A 7pm performance is scheduled for Saturday, February 25th at 7pm at Elley-Long as well.
Meet Ian Drury, the new YTV Program Director who is learning about the Touring Group this season and will be traveling with the group to Cape Breton.
FUNDRAISING
Fundraising continues! More than 100 folks have joined the Touring Group "on the bus" to access exclusive content that arrives in their inbox each month. Raffle tickets are available now, at performances, from group members, and online. This year's raffle is for an heirloom-quality Vermont Folk Rocker, handmade in Vermont from sustainably-harvested wood for unmatched comfort and beauty!
There is now an easy way to access all the Touring Group fundraising activities online. Click below to buy raffle tickets, find out more about a virtual bus seat, or make a general donation. Sponsorship opportunities are online too: businesses and supporters who donate $100 (or more) will be added to the Sponsorship Banner that is displayed at Touring Group concerts in Vermont and Cape Breton.
CAPE BRETON
The Touring Group's cultural/performance travel tour to Cape Breton is coming into focus. Mark Sustic is coordinating visits with many master musicians and the Touring Group is booked for several public & live-streamed/on air performances including Mary Janet MacDonald's "Tunes and Wooden Spoons" and the "Wednesday Night Céilidh" at Colaisde na Gàidhlig | The Gaelic College. Several school visits are planned, including to post-secondary programs (Beinn Mhàbu and Cape Breton University) as well as to several high schools (Dalbrae Academy and École NDA) where Touring Group members can meet and play with Cape Breton musicians their age. The Touring Group will also be visiting the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre, tour CBFM (a Cape Breton radio station), and see the Big Fiddle in Sydney, with more still to be arranged! In the meantime, enjoy a video from one of this year's Artist Leaders, Dominique Dodge, as she introduces the Touring Group members to the Gaelic College.
One more picture from the December rehearsals, which ended with an energetic contradance!
