Author: Admin

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announcements festivals

Bangor Mini-Fest Cancelled

Hello folks,

We are sorry to inform you that it will not be possible to proceed with the Bangor guitar weekend at the end of August (29th / 30th). The venue, Hamilton Halls, is not going to be open until September at the earliest, and the committee is not in a position to find another venue. In fact, the general view of the committee is that postponement until more suitable times ahead is the correct action at this time.

I hope everybody is well and still enjoying plenty of guitar activities, albeit in the midst of social distancing, etc. Just a reminder – there is an active society WhatsApp group, founded during lockdown. All sorts of things get discussed – fingernails, strings, performance practice, gardening, poetry….. even molecular virology! If you want to join the group, please contact the secretary. Only recognised members will be able to join.

Chairman

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announcements meetings

BBQ Cancellation

Dear Members,

We were originally scheduled to have our June meeting this Sunday, 14th June. Since we are not allowed to meet indoors as a group, and only small cohorts may meet outdoors, it is not possible to have the meeting. At this stage the barbeque is also off the list. I do not know as yet whether our Bangor weekend will be possible, but if it does go ahead we shall have to work out all the social distancing and hand hygiene logistics, etc. Valerie Hartzell will not be coming as she is in “shielding” mode and has no intention of travelling or performing on this side of an effective vaccination programme. Sorry for the gloomy news.

On a brighter note there is an active society WhatsApp group, which I believe has a had a couple of virtual meetings using Zoom. Members of the group have posted little videos of their own home performances, and there has been lots of discussion on a wide range of topics from nail care to Leo Brouwer and even on growing leeks! If you are a member and are not signed on to the group and wish to do so please get in touch.

I have attached a little article about the society below, recently published in Making Music’s magazine.

MakingMusicJune2020

All the best for a bright and musical summer.

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announcements concerts ensemble festivals meetings

Coronavirus Cancellations

Dear Members and Associates,

I don’t think anybody will be surprised to learn that we are going to have to cancel our forthcoming meetings on account of this virus proliferation.

The committee has agreed the following:

Sunday 5th April: Portstewart meeting – cancelled

Sunday 3rd May (originally planned for Sunday 10th May): AGM – cancelled. Until we can rearrange the AGM, the committee has agreed to continue in a caretaker capacity.

Sunday 14th June: Regular meeting – to be decided later, but unlikely to go ahead

Sunday 28th June or Sunday 4th July: Barbecue – to be decided later, but unlikely to go ahead

Also – Wednesday 1st April: Ards Guitar festival – cancelled; ensemble rehearsals – cancelled.

At this stage we intend to proceed with the Bangor guitar weekend at the end of August, so if you have not done so, please contact Keith or any other member of the committee, to register your interest.

Best wishes to you and yours. Keep well and keep playing your guitar!

Categories
festivals performances

Bangor Mini-Fest

Hi Folks

This year the CGSNI are supporting a weekend guitar festival in Bangor, Co. Down over the late August Bank Holiday weekend, 29th and 30th August (please see the flier below). The artists will be American guitarist Valerie Hartzell, Sean Woods and Brian Keenan. Please let me know you would be interested in attending this event.

Keith
(on behalf of the Committee).

Flyer for Bangor mini fest

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Uncategorized

Derry Guitar Weekend Photos

Hi folks – here are a few photos from the Derry guitar weekend just passed. More can be viewed on our Facebook page.

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concerts ensemble festivals meetings performances

North Coast Events & Derry Festival

For anyone visiting the North Coast this Summer, there are a couple of events of note coming up:

Music at Mussenden Temple

Our member Damien O’Connor will be performing on Sunday 18th August 12noon to 2pm. Link

Portstewart

Keith and Robbie will be performing at Warke’s Deli on the Promenade, Portstewart on Saturday 27th July 4pm till 5pm.

Guitar weekend in Derry

The programme is shown below. If you wish to come it’s not too late; please contact secretary.cgsni (at) gmail.com!

CGSNI DERRY MEETING
Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin
37 Great James Street
L/Derry BT48 7DF

Sean Woods and Isabel Martinez

Sat 24th Aug

9am Access to Building

10 – 10.15am Welcome and housekeeping

10.15- 11am Technical workshops Sean/Isabel

11am Tea/Coffee

11.15- 12noon Technical workshop Sean/Isabel

12noon- 1 pm Cluster Groups Split into three groups and with Sean and Isabel circulating between the groups

1pm – 2 pm Lunch Break

2pm – 4pm Ensemble (Sean)

4.15pm Members recital

5 pm Close

7.30 Concert performance by Isabel Martinez in the DDCF Church, Northland Road.

—

Sunday 25th Aug

9am Access to Building

10am Sean/Isabel Masterclasses (2 x 30min)

11am Tea/Coffee

11.15-12.15 Masterclasses (2 x 30min)

12.15-1pm Cluster Groups

1pm Lunch Break

2pm – 4pm Ensemble (see below)

4.15pm Members recital

5 pm Close and disperse

—

There are two pieces for the Ensemble:

  • Faure Pavane (transcribed by Ed Mitchell)
  • “The Tree on the Moor” Gary Ryan (written for the 2012 City of Derry Guitar Festival)
Categories
announcements ensemble festivals meetings

Next Society Meeting – 9th June

Our next meeting at the Ulster College of Music is on Sunday 9th June 2019 at 3.00pm. Assuming a large number attending we shall arrange cluster groups before a regular members’ recital.

Other News:

Before that meeting (as already mentioned) the society ensemble is performing at Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church, Bangor this Friday 7th June at 7.30pm. Those members (and friends and family) not involved in the performance are very welcome to attend, and we are hoping that some may be inspired to join the ensemble next season!

Plans for a barbeque at the end of June are still in development, so more on this later.

The new committee for 2019-20 will be meeting in late July to plan next season’s programme. However, just to remind you – the CGSNI Derry Guitar weekend is on again this year, with a similar format to last year, but including a professional recital this time. The dates are Sat 24th – Sun 25th August. That’s the August Bank Holiday weekend. No doubt there will be more from Keith about the festival soon, but in the meantime please make a note in your diary of the dates.

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performances

Forthcoming Performances

Members are involved in two performances in June.

Friday 7th 7.30pm at Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church, Bangor in aid of the Kiwoko Hospital Uganda. Performance by the CGSNI ensemble with solos from Phil Brown and Stephen Anderson.

Friday 28th at 7.45pm June Macmillan Information and Support Centre, Belfast City Hospital, Lisburn Road in aid of the work of the Centre. Performance by the Festival Trio (Keith Thompson and Robert Cuthbert accompanied by Steve White on keyboard and continuo).

We would greatly appreciate your support if you are able to attend.

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concerts ensemble performances rehearsals

AGM and Arts Care Festival

Dear CGSNI Members

Our Annual Meeting takes place this Sunday 12th May at 3pm, This will involve the presentation of Reports from the Chair, the Secretary and the Treasurer and the election of a Committee for the coming year. If you have any issues you would like to discuss please get in touch with the Secretary before the meeting.

Following the meeting there will be a members’ recital. This will be an opportunity for the ensemble to play through its repertoire before our performance the next day (13th May) at the Arts Care festival in Belfast City Hospital, and include the quartet and duet pieces. For anyone wishing to support the performers the concert is at 7.30pm in Seminar Room 3 in the Cancer Centre located on the first floor. Go straight ahead when emerging from the lift and follow the corridor in front of you. The concert will be shared with students from the Ulster College of Music who will perform during the first half of the evening.

The next day (Tuesday 14th at 8pm, Outpatients Department, BCH Tower Block) Keith, Robbie, and Steve White (Keyboard) will play a recital of well known music by Mozart, Schubert, Vivaldi, Purcell, Pachelbel, Bach and Telemann. Again your support would be much appreciated if you are interested.

Regards,

CGSNI Secretary

Categories
meetings

Portstewart Meeting

Next meeting of the society: 3pm – Sunday 7th April 2019

Portstewart Baptist Church Café

This is a reminder that our meeting next week will take place in Portstewart as above. Approaching Portstewart from Coleraine you will see the church on the left at the very outskirts of town. There is plenty of handy parking just there. If anybody needs a lift please contact the secretary email address or me and we shall sort out travel arrangements before the end of the week.

All the best. Robert