Coming to The historic Edwards Opera House:

The Laurentian Singers and Martha Gallagher, The Adirondack Harper
Exuberantly joyful and exquisitely beautiful music of the holiday season will fill the Edwards Opera House.

The Laurentian Singers have won wide acclaim since the ensemble was founded in 1946. In addition to their many performances on campus and in the community, the 36-voice ensemble has toured extensively throughout the eastern United States, Canada, Europe, Central and South America, Romania and the former Soviet Union. Last year, under the direction of Torres, the Laurentians returned to Puerto Rico, singing for enthusiastic packed audiences and meeting choirs across the island. The group's wide-ranging repertoire, drawn from music of many styles and countries, reflects the spirit of the liberal arts experience at St. Lawrence. The choir is composed of undergraduate students who represent a wide variety of academic majors and interests. Their performance will include beautiful hymns as well as holiday songs composed during the swing/W.W.II era including: White Christmas; Blue Christmas; Silver bells; and I'll Be Home For Christmas.

Martha Gallagher, the Adirondack Harper, will share her love of the music and the season, in concert with Celtic harp and voice, in traditional carols, jazzy holiday delights, and original music.

Holding a B.A. in Music Performance, Composing, Arranging, and Recording, with a classical and folk background, Martha's career has spanned many musical adventures, from classical flautist in a symphony orchestra to lead singer in both rock and jazz/blues bands. She built her first harp and taught herself to play. She has since studied with Welsh Triple harp virtuoso Robin Huw Bowen, Scotland's Wendy Stewart, and Scottish composer/harper William Jackson.

In 2003 the world-renowned Irish band, The Chieftains, invited Martha to perform with them during their US tour. Her solo tours have taken her throughout the US, as well as into Canada. The National Endowment for the Arts has sponsored several of her tours. The New York Foundation for the Arts recently awarded Martha a Special Opportunities Grant, enabling her to travel to Scotland to attend the Annual Edinburgh International Harp Festival, where she performed and s hared music with some of the world's best harpers and harpists. The recipient of several NYSCA grants, she has presented an extensive series of concert performances in public libraries in New York State. She also presents educational programs for grades k-12, expanding on the music to integrate Shakespeare, poetry, history and physics.

On Celtic harp, Bold & Beautiful Martha's unique vision of the Celtic harp includes not only the soulful strains of a Celtic lament, but also the brave and bold sounds of an instrument once used to stir a warrior's heart, as well as a playfulness that is all her own! Her vocals range from powerful to tender, from humorous to pure moxie! Martha's charismatic stage presence is a culmination of her diverse performance background, making her live performances an eye, ear, and heart-opening treat for audiences!

Music from the Adirondacks, for the World Martha has been sharing her spirited, distinctive, and richly varied blend of original, traditional Celtic, jazz, folk, and world-inspired music with audiences for 25 years. After a hiatus from touring to raise her family, she has returned to the stages of the world. Inspired by the mountains, lakes, valleys, and rivers that are her Adirondack home, her original music transcends regional definition to appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds all over the globe. She has produced and recorded three CDs. Consisting mainly of original material, Martha's recordings wonderfully illustrate her talent and diversity as a songwriter, musician and performer.

"She's a grand harper!" Paddy Maloney, The Chieftains, USA Tour 2003

The show starts at 7:00 pm. General admission is $7.00 in advance or at the door. Advance tickets available by mail and at the following locations: the Brewer Bookstore and The Pear Tree in Canton, Northern Music and Strawberry Fields Music in Potsdam and The Wood Family Grocery in Edwards.

The Edwards Opera House is located on the second floor of the Edwards Town Hall, 161 Main Street, Edwards, NY. To purchase advance tickets by mail, please send check or money order payable to The Edwards Arts Council, Inc. to P.O. Box 241, Edwards, NY 13635. Please include SASE.

Directions and Information available at (315) 562-8213 or by visiting our web site: www.edwardsartscouncil.org. The Edwards Arts Council, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization, donations are tax deductible. Schedule subject to change, please call or check the web site for the latest information.