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Karen Ashbrook and Paul Oorts
perform in Door County...
Concerts in Fish Creek and Namur, classes and jams at the Landmark
Resort in Egg Harbor, Apr. 25 - 27
April 25, 2003
by Steve Kastner
This weekend provides a special opportunity for acoustic music fans and
musicians to get together for concerts, workshops and general fun. Theresa Evans is pioneering a stringed instrument
retreat at the Landmark Resort. The 2nd Annual Celtic Café brings internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist,
Karen Ashbrook and Belgian musician, Paul Oorts, to the Peninsula for two concerts and a series of stringed instrument
classes.
Enjoy an evening of Celtic, French and Flemish music from the cultural crossroads of Europe on Sat., Apr. 26, at the Historic Fish Creek Town Hall, at 8 PM
and again on Sun., Apr. 27 at St. Mary of The Snows Catholic Church
in Namur at 4 PM for the Belgian American Club's fund-raiser.
Proceeds from Sunday's concert will be used to restore the old schoolhouse in Namur - future home for a museum
of Belgian history and culture.
Karen Ashbrook
built her first hammered dulcimer as a high school project. In search of Irish music, she spent five years playing
in Europe and Asia, traversing the globe twice. Based in the Washington D.C. area, Karen teaches and performs Irish,
contra dance and Jewish music, as well as appearing at numerous camps and festivals around the country each year.
She is considered one of the finest hammered dulcimer players performing today. She also plays the Irish flute
and pennywhistle. Both Karen and Paul are sought after for their workshops and performances nationally and internationally.
Paul Oorts is
an exceptionally versatile musician and scholar, well versed in Flemish, Walloon, French and Celtic traditions.
He is an accomplished string player who excels on mandolin, cittern, classical and steel string guitars, and musette
accordion.
Oorts' lead playing and accompaniment draws from world music rhythms - driving, exotic and syncopated. A native
of Halle (Zoersel) in Belgium, Oorts' musical education took place in the pubs, cafes and coffee houses of Belgium
and France. Considered a favorite accompanist for dulcimer players on the East Coast, his multi-instrumentalist
talents encompass guitar, cittern, mandolin, hammered dulcimer and musette accordion.
Karen and Paul play an exciting blend of instruments coupled with a repertoire based in Irish music and also drawn
from Oorts' native Flemish and French music, contradance and classical repertoire. Last year at the Clearing in
Ellison Bay, they played to a packed house - in a concert that many describe as stunning.
This year concert tickets at either location are $10, general admission, available at the door. Tickets for the
Fish Creek concert are also available in advance at O'Meara's Irish House and The Magic Jacket in Fish Creek or
the Celtic Connection in Sister Bay. For more information on Sunday's concert in Namur contact Kim Potier Davis
at 920.743.4973, or by e-mail: kmpd@charter.net.
Second Annual Hammered Dulcimer and Guitar Retreat
Karen Ashbrook and Paul Oorts, are also in Door County with Stu Janis
to provide instruction for music students. On Friday evening they begin a series of workshop sessions that continue
on Saturday and Sunday at the Landmark Resort in Egg Harbor. Organizer Theresa Evans says students of all levels
may learn to play the hammered dulcimer with beginning and intermediate levels of instruction with Karen or Stu;
or intermediate level guitar players may investigate open tunings with Paul.
Over twenty-five students are registered for the Second Annual Hammered Dulcimer and Guitar Retreat at the Landmark,
and there is still time to join in the fun. A weekend of workshops, jams and a ticket to the Fish Creek concert
are included in the $150 price. Contact Theresa Evans at 920.854.7566 or 920.868.2019 if you would like to attend.
On Friday evening the Landmark will host a jam session at 9 PM
in the Pub, and again on Saturday evening after the Fish Creek concert.
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