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A Celtic Tapestry: A Transatlantic Musical Evening

Produced by Performing Arts Educators • Thursday, June 18, 2026 • St. Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny

Featuring Four Ensembles: New Caledonia Folk Orchestra (United States), Heartland Harp Ensemble USA (United States), Music Generation Waterford Harp Ensemble (Waterford), and The Lady Desart Choir (Kilkenny).

Something genuinely special arrives in Kilkenny tonight.

Tonight’s performance is the grand feature of a weeklong cultural journey. This initiative began last year with a celebrated premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and has now evolved into a dynamic "Movable Festival." This week, the journey brings over fifty transatlantic musicians to Ireland to study, collaborate, and share their craft during an intensive residency in Waterford before traveling here to Kilkenny to perform. Looking ahead, next year the Movable Festival crosses the Irish Sea to England, where the orchestra will trace the historic musical roots of the Beatles, tour the Lake District, and bring acoustic folk music to historic spaces across that part of the UK.

For one evening only, the New Caledonia Folk Orchestra and Heartland Harp Ensemble USA share the stage with two of the Southeast's finest local ensembles: Kilkenny's own Lady Desart Choir and the Music Generation Waterford Harp Ensemble.

Our venue is St. Canice's Cathedral, one of Ireland's most magnificent medieval buildings, where music echoes off ancient stone for over 800 years. Expect an evening that moves between the rich warmth of choral voices, the soaring expressiveness of strings, and the timeless sound of harp and dulcimer — three distinct musical worlds, woven seamlessly together.

This is a rare, once-off event. A transatlantic collaboration, live in your own backyard.

Section 1: Featured Leadership & Ensembles

• Music Generation Waterford Harp Ensemble | Jill Devlin: Music Educator
• Heartland Harp Ensemble USA | Artistic Director: Lorinda Jones
• New Caledonia Folk Orchestra | Artistic Directors: Larry & Elaine Conger
• Lady Desart Choir | Artistic Director: Gil Coulter

Section 2: The Evening's Concert Program

Part I — Joint Set: Music Generation Waterford Harp Ensemble (MGWHE) and Heartland Harp Ensemble USA (HHE USA)

• O’Sullivan's March Performed by: MGWHE
• Barb’ry Ellen / Old Aunt Jenny With Her Nightcap On Arranged by Lorinda Jones | Performed by: HHE USA
• Clocks (by Coldplay) Performed by: MGWHE
• Athlone / Poor Wayfaring Stranger Arranged by Rachel Marshall and Lorinda Jones | Performed by: HHE USA
• The Riddle Song Arranged by Glenda Patterson and Lorinda Jones | Performed by: HHE USA
• The Wedding Waltz Performed by: MGWHE
• Johnny Has Gone For A Soldier Arranged by Lorinda Jones | Performed by: Both Ensembles
• Shenandoah Arranged by Lorinda Jones | Performed by: HHE USA
• The Winner Takes It All Performed by: MGWHE
• What Wondrous Love Is This / Simple Gifts Arranged by Lorinda Jones | Performed by: HHE USA
• The Lilting Banshee Performed by: MGWHE
• I’ll Twine ‘Mid The Ringlets Arranged by Nancy DeRosa | Performed by: HHE USA
• The Hole in the Hedge Arranged by Jill Devlin | Performed by: Both Ensembles

Part II — New Caledonia Folk Orchestra

Tagline: From Ireland to Appalachia in Six Sets

Set 1: Irish Jig Medley

A collection of tunes still popular in Irish pub sessions: “Off She Goes,” “Smash the Windows,” and “The Connaughtman’s Rambles.”

Set 2: In Celebration of Turlough O’Carolan

Well-known tunes by Ireland’s National Musician: “Planxty Irwin,” “Planxty Fanny Power,” and “Denis O’Conor.”

Set 3: Music of Stephen Foster

Nothing sums up the early history of America more than tunes by Stephen Foster: “Hard Times” and “Old Folks at Home,” with a nod at the end to “My Old Kentucky Home.”

Set 4: Minor Mood Medley

Irish tunes that deliver an introspective emotional quality: “Coleraine,” “The Road to Lisdoonvarna,” and “A Fig for a Kiss.”

Set 5: From Ireland to Appalachia

The music of Ireland immigrated to America just like its people. “John Ryan’s Polka” is also known as “The Titanic Polka” because of its appearance in the Titanic movie, and the Irish quickstep “Garryowen” became the theme and nickname of the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the U.S. Army. Ireland’s music fostered much of the music that came out of Appalachia, but in this medley, we’ve taken the last two songs, “Spotted Pony” and “Old Joe Clark,” back to Ireland by turning them into jigs!

Set 6: It’s an Irish Lullaby

In our final medley, we’ll perform some well-known Irish tunes, but play them more as lullabies: “Down by the Sally Gardens,” “On Raglan Road,” and “Molly Malone.” The final tune, “It’s an Irish Lullaby,” was written in America in 1913, yet made famous by Bing Crosby in the movie Going My Way in 1944. Please sing it with us!

Part III — The Lady Desart Choir

The Lady Desart Choir performs a set of songs chosen to respond to the audience and atmosphere of St. Canice’s Cathedral, offering the ultimate in artistic flexibility and audience engagement. Repertoire selection includes:

• • The Greatest Show
• • Don't Stop Me Now
• • Am I Ready
• • Foggy Dew / Battles Medley
• • Run
• • Wicked Medley
• • Running with the Wolves
• • Like a Prayer
• • Nessun Dorma
• • Temptations / Tina Turner Medley
• • Parting Glass

Section 3: Artistic Notes & Perspectives

"How fortunate we are to embark on this extraordinary voyage across the Atlantic to share music in the land of so many of our ancestors. For folk musicians especially, the music of Ireland is one of the great-grandparents of the music we grew up hearing and continue to play today. That Scots-Irish heritage is deeply woven into the culture and history of the early settlers of Southern Appalachia — the birthplace of the mountain dulcimer.

Larry and I are well-versed in arranging music for the mountain dulcimer, but taking on the challenge of arranging for a folk orchestra in our “golden years” has been both humbling and exhilarating. As artistic directors of the New Caledonia Folk Orchestra, we continually find our musical strengths, creativity, and sensibilities stretched in new directions. It has become a challenging and deeply worthwhile adventure...

At the conclusion of each medley conducted by Larry or me this evening, we invite you to take a brief moment before applauding. Listen as the final notes linger in the air around you within these ancient cathedral walls. You may notice that after signaling the final cutoff, our arms remain suspended for just a moment longer — a gesture of reverence for the once-in-a-lifetime musical experience we have all shared together."

— Larry & Elaine Conger, Artistic Directors, New Caledonia Folk Orchestra

"As a producer, I’m always fascinated by how an idea germinates ~ how talented people take a simple notion and carry it forward in ways that become richer, deeper, and frankly, surprising.

What began as “Wouldn’t it be fun to play dulcimer in Scotland?” has become something far more expansive: an international folk orchestra spanning California to Ireland, drawing from 18 states, and bringing together lap and hammered dulcimers, mandolins, guitars, fiddles, rhythm, voices ~ and yes, even flutes. With our own compositions and conductors.

This is more than a trip to Ireland. It is a bespoke, curated, cultural residency. Our travel is shaped around the music. Our days are built for it ~ education, performance, collaboration, and genuine exchange. We are not visiting Irish culture; we are stepping into it..."

— Matt Straub, Executive Producer, Performing Arts Educators

Section 4: Ensemble Profiles

Heartland Harp Ensemble USA

The Heartland Harp Ensemble USA consists of harpers from Kentucky and surrounding states, under the direction of Lorinda Jones. Based in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, the ensemble met initially with the educational goal of teaching all levels of aspiring harp players in a collaborative group setting. Over the years, the group has evolved into a celebrated performance ensemble, sharing traditional folk music from Celtic lands where the instrument originated, alongside American roots, sacred, festive, world, and hospice service music. Since 2013, the ensemble has recorded four albums, and toured parts of Ireland in 2017, and Scotland in 2023.

Music Generation Waterford Harp Ensemble

The Music Generation Waterford Harp Ensemble is led by musician educator and Waterford based harper Jill Devlin. The harp programme commenced in 2019, offering children and young people access to instruments and weekly harp tuition in Waterford City. During the lockdown of 2020/21, the programme continued to grow online with new students and the beginning of the Music Generation Waterford Harp Ensemble. In September 2022, the harp programme extended to Dungarvan where children and young people in West Waterford can now access instruments and weekly harp tuition also. Since 2019, the young harpers have collaborated with a number of noted musicians including Macdara Ó Faoláin, Alannah Thornburgh, Fiana Ní Chonaill, and the MTU CSM Symphony Orchestra in collaboration with the Symphony Club of Waterford. Their most recent performances include Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, a featured performance on TG4, and a performance at the Celtic Harp Festival di Pamparato in Italy last summer where they also featured on the album Live in Pamparato, Vol. 3 - 2025. Many of the harp students attend the annual Tionól harp and pipes residential weekend hosted by Music Generation Laois and are members of Music Generation Ireland’s Harp Collective.

The Lady Desart Choir

The Lady Desart Choir is a renowned, contemporary SATB community choir based in the medieval heart of Kilkenny, Ireland. Founded in 2018 under the dynamic and passionate musical direction of Gill Coulter, this vibrant ensemble brings together over 70 singers spanning multiple generations, united by their shared love for music and community. Known for its eclectic and powerful repertoire, the choir seamlessly navigates genres from soaring classical masterpieces and emotive contemporary ballads to high-energy pop, rock, and theatrical showstoppers, always delivering performances filled with emotional depth and infectious energy. As a proud ambassador for Kilkenny’s rich cultural heritage, the choir performs frequently at regional festivals, civic gatherings, and charity events. Most notably, all ticket proceeds from tonight's concert go directly towards supporting the choir’s upcoming landmark journey: a featured performance at the historic Carnegie Hall in New York City in January 2027.

New Caledonia Folk Orchestra

The New Caledonia Folk Orchestra is a trailblazing ensemble dedicated to exploring and celebrating the deep, historic connections between the music of Ireland and the traditional sounds of the Southern Appalachians. Founded in August 2025 during a acclaimed debut residency at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the orchestra serves as a dynamic transatlantic bridge, inviting string-based instrumentalists to join for a musical adventure spanning oceans and generations. The unique instrumentation includes lap and hammered dulcimers, mandolins, guitars, fiddles, acoustic bass, whistles, flutes, and percussion, blending old-world structures with the soulful, driving rhythms of American roots music. Under the artistic direction of acclaimed educators and arrangers Larry and Elaine Conger, the orchestra brings together musicians from across 18 US states and local European players, fostering a unique space for creative orchestration, community building, and cultural preservation.

Section 5: The Movable Festival — Residency Showcase

Summary of the Residency Journey: The music you hear tonight is born from a week of immersive cultural exchange. Following an intensive, weeklong creative residency in Waterford—where our transatlantic musicians studied traditional styles, shared techniques, and rehearsed together—these select Festival Ensembles are now expanding the music outward. Traveling beyond the classroom, these targeted configurations are bringing acoustic folk and roots traditions directly into regional venues, communities, and historic spaces across Ireland. Tonight's showcase is the polished presentation of that artistic journey.

Featured Premiere on June 19, 2026 at House of Waterford Crystal

Piece: "Homeplace Medley"
Note: An original composition by Dawn Davis performed at the House of Waterford Crystal.
Performers: Dawn Davis (piano); Debby Couch (flute); & Sarah Fellman (violin)

Festival Ensembles at Select Locations throughout Ireland

• Mountain Echoes Ben D’Ooge, Darlene Brazil, Deb Bernard, Caryn Paul, & Doug Paul
• Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club & Friends Deby Libby, Ginny Cliett, Darlene Brazil, Ben D'Ooge, Caryn Paul, Deb Bernard, & Peggy Broussard
• Appalachian Strings Carol Crocker, Jane Wooten, Judy Taylor, Fran Hoadley, & Erwin Hoadley
• Grimm/Swartz Trio Cherie Grimm, Daniel Grimm, and Janet Swartz

Section 6: Thank You to Our Partners

Partners: St. Canice's Cathedral • Greatdays Group Travel

Performing Arts Educators is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to meaningful, non-competitive performance experiences and international cultural exchange.

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Please email [email protected] for more information.