Claremont Folk Festival

I cannot believe that I have lived in Claremont for 27 years, and I have never before been to the Claremont Folk Festival. Thankfully, I rectified that on Saturday when I attended the festival for the first time. It was also the first time that the festival was held at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens. What a perfect venue for such a great event. I will be sure to go again.

For the uninitiated, the all-day festival features lots and lots of live music with two stages going. There are workshops from folk singing, drumming, ukulele, songwriting, didgeridoo, and arts. Various vendors sell interesting items and local food vendors have eats and drinks (including Claremont Craft Ales and Dale Brothers).

Here is Peter Harper playing at the Lily Pond Stage (plenty of shade for the audience).

 Here is a mosaic in process at the mosaic-making workshop.

People were enjoying monotype printing.

Kids were enjoying a puppet show.

Here is a "quilt" where people have written the name of a special song on an index card.

You could buy cool banjos and cigar-box ukuleles.

Many people were carrying around their own ukes.

Food vendors

Here is Moira Smiley and VOCO on the main stage. I really, really enjoyed this performance and came home to look them up on the internet. They have a TEDx talk that you can see here.

This group, Fivacious, was supposed to have a spot on one of the stages, but something went wrong, so they were strolling around the gardens and singing in various spots. I stopped for a listen, and they gave out CDs when they were done. They are a family of 5 siblings singing a capella gospel.

Logo Winner

The logo I submitted for the contest was not the winner, but this one by some students was.

CCO Logo

Just before spring break, David Cubek, conductor for the Claremont Concert Orchestra, put out a challenge to us to create and submit a logo for our orchestra. I thought that would be fun, so here is what I submitted. 

I took my inspiration from Garrison Theater where we rehearse and perform.

Professor Cubek is seeking ways in which to promote our orchestra, and as I looked on the internet just now, I viewed our official webpage, where you can hear excerpts of past performances, and this youtube video of our performance of In the Hall of the Mountain King by Grieg. 

Music Sculptures

Spring Break is a great time to think about things other than music, although one can never really escape music...  Anyway, I just got home from a trip to see family in Colorado, and we took a lovely walk through the Benson Sculpture Garden where I found at least three music-related sculptures.  I try to integrate art into my music lessons once in a while - enjoying the cross-pollenization of the artistic disciplines.