COBB — Celtic harpist Patrick Ball brought Irish storytelling to life before a youthful audience, Monday, Oct. 15, at Cobb Mountain Elementary School. Ball”s appearance for two school assemblies was sponsored by Clear Lake Performing Arts.
According to Andi Skelton, youth education committee chairman, CLPA”s involvement in local schools is not as well-known as some of its other programs such as its concert series, which saw Ball performing this weekend at the Kelseyville High School Student Center.
Skelton added, schools spend so much time keeping up with state and federal testing requirements that little time is left for school assemblies. Fortunately, Cobb Elementary was able to incorporate Ball”s appearance into its Monday assembly schedule.
Ball combined music and storytelling into a captivating performance that was ably tailored for his younger audience. He guided students on an imaginary journey from the multi-purpose room up on Cobb across the sea to Ireland, where he introduced them to Turlough O”Carolan, “the last of the Irish bards,” and explained to them the difference between his maple, brass-strung harp and its more typical, gut-strung, modern counterpart.
On his previous trips to Lake County, Ball”s CLPA performances have routinely sold out at the Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum. This year”s performance utilized a larger venue.
Ball regularly makes himself available for children”s concert performances. For more information, see www.patrickball.com. The performance lasts for 45 minutes and is adaptable to other times and formats with material that is age-appropriate.
Additional resources are available for preparation and classroom follow-up.
The CLPA concert series continues Sunday, Nov. 18, with the Lake County Symphony”s winter concert and on Sunday, Dec. 16, the annual Christmas concert featuring the Lake County Symphony. For tickets or more information, please call 279-0877.
For more information about in-school performances, call Youth Education Committee Chairman Andie Skelton at 279-4336.
Contact Cynthia Parkhill at cparkhill@clearlakeobserver.com.
