This Fall term marks the tenth year of the Center for Irish Music teaching traditional Irish music in Saint Paul, Minnesota.  At this monumental anniversary, our Executive Director, Norah Rendell reflects on the mission statement that was created by founders, Kate and Jode Dowling:

Irish traditional music is an intergenerational and international network of musicians, engaged listeners, life-long learners and community members who share a love and respect for Irish folk music.

When we say that the Center for Irish Music is "dedicated to handing down the tradition to the next generation of musicians in our community," this is what we mean:

• We value people of all ages who engage in the tradition of Irish music.
• We believe that each member plays a role in the preservation, propagation and development of the tradition. 
• We value the music and the musicians who hold the tradition in their heads, hearts, hands and voices. 
• We respect our elders and the wisdom and knowledge they bring to the tradition.
• We welcome adult musicians including those who start playing later in life.
• We make a concerted effort to expose young people to good traditional music by creating opportunities that also connect them to a larger cultural community.  Such activities include social gatherings, sessions, concerts, dances and the Fleadh Cheoil.
• We value communities in Ireland and Irish America and make an effort to both connect with, and learn from their innovators and tradition-bearers.
• We value music making and enjoyment from childhood to teenage years, through young adulthood into the hard-working mid-life years, and through retirement all the way into the latest stages of life.
• We believe that taking Irish music seriously is fun and endlessly fascinating!

Irish music has the power to connect people with their past, to their ethnic heritage and to themselves and their innermost passions.  It is an honour to be doing the work we do to do whatever we can to enable this to happen right here in Minnesota.

Please know that you are a valued member of the cultural community here.  We look forward to spending the next ten years with you!

Sincerely,

Norah Rendell

Executive Director and Musician