Dear Friends of Friday Harbor Irish Music Week,
After ten great years of music and friendship - ceol agus cairdeas - at the Friday Harbor Irish Music Week, we cancelled the 2012 camp due to complications involved in procuring work visas for our Irish teachers. We were afraid they wouldn't be issued in time and we might have had to cancel at the last minute, after airfares had been purchased, time off from jobs arranged, etc. That was a very difficult decision for us, but once it was taken we both took the opportunity to step back and consider where we've come with the camp, what it's accomplished and where it might be headed. While we're both very proud of the community created around the camp, and the great influence it's had on the playing of Irish traditional music here in the Northwest, we feel it's time for a change and to bring the Friday Harbor Irish Music Week as it has been to a close.
We set out to create an immersion experience, not only in the traditional music but also in the culture surrounding it. We feel the camp has been a huge success in that regard and the results are audible in the fine playing of our many students. A big part of our motivation was also to pass the music on to all musicians, including the next generation, directly from the hands of great master musicians, person to person. One of the reasons we feel it's time to move on is that due to the remoteness of San Juan Island, the cost and the time of year, it's been very hard for some people to attend the camp. Our inclinations are to go separate ways at this point so that we can focus more on what we want to do as individuals. Randal is exploring possibilities for creating a new event (or events) in another location, while Dan would like to continue a less structured week (there would be no organized teaching classes) at Roche Harbor, San Juan Island, where musicians of all ages can come together simply to play the music and share it with each other.
We want to extend our very heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make Friday Harbor the success it was; our volunteers, our teachers, the people of Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor, and especially our wonderful students. It's been a fantastic run, we've all learned a lot, and now it's time to let it go on a positive note and look forward to the future.
"Is fearr clú ná conach." (A good name is better than riches).
Randal Bays rsb@randalbays.com
Dan Paulson dpci@rockisland.com
