October 31, 2005

UCSC presents premiere of new orchestral version of Irish Christmas story

The New World and the Old Country come together in a special symphonic concert set for November 4 and 5, at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Center Recital Hall. The UC Santa Cruz Orchestra, conducted by Professor Nicole Paiement, will perform the world premiere of the orchestral version of Parcel From America, a Christmas tale of Irish music, song, dance, and storytelling by native Irish writer/storyteller Tomáseen Foley. The program will also include Czech composer Antonin Dvorak's symphony Symphony No. 9 in E minor, subtitled From the New World.

Acclaimed Irish storyteller Tomáseen Foley will perform with the UCSC Orchestra.

Paiement and UCSC lecturer, guitarist, and recording artist William Coulter have teamed up with Santa Cruz composer/musician Barry Phillips to present Parcel From America, which weaves a story from Foley's youth in Ireland. Based on one of the stories from Foley's popular touring production A Celtic Christmas--which Coulter has performed in and been musical director of since1996--Parcel has typically been performed by a band of Celtic musicians. Coulter's longtime collaborator Barry Phillips recently arranged the piece for orchestra, and this new version will receive its premiere at the UCSC concert.

Parcel from America will feature the UCSC Orchestra, guitarist Coulter, and storyteller Foley--plus David Brewer on uilleann pipes and whistle, Deby Benton Grosjean on fiddle, vocalist Moira Smiley, and Irish dancers Kathleen Keane and Bethany Duff. This concert is presented by the UCSC Music Department with additional support from a Porter College Visiting Artists grant. For ticket information, contact the UCSC Ticket Office at (831) 459-2159.

 

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