CELTIC AWAKENING

MARCH 15 2:30PM & 7:00PM
Newman Center for the Performing Arts

MARCH 16 2:30PM
Newman Center for the Performing Arts

The ancient runes, hewn into the mossy boulders that dot Streedagh Beach in Ireland’s County Sligo have puzzled scientists and anthropologists for decades. Legends of their meaning have been passed down by word of mouth by the local villagers for generations. Some say the runes describe a story of a great sea beast that terrorized the village, some say they hold the recipe for a hearty and medicinal stew; but the mysteries of the runes have never been fully uncovered… until now. Denver Brass has decoded the forgotten language and unlocked the secrets of the ancient Celtic ritual they describe. To pull this off and divine the disembodied spirits of the elder druids, we will need some help from our friends at Celtics Steps Irish Dance, Rocky Mountain Highland Dancers, Celtic Colorado Pipes and Drums, and Irish Tenor Todd Teske. Join Denver Brass as we perform the sacred rites of Celtic Awakening.

with CELTIC COLORADO PIPES & DRUMS, TODD TESKE - TENOR, ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGHLAND DANCERS, CELTIC STEPS IRISH DANCE SCHOOL

For more information, ticket sales and season schedule, please email us at info@denverbrass.org or call 303-832-4676. Discounts are available for youth, seniors, and groups. Children 12 & Under FREE!

GUEST ARTISTS

CELTIC COLORADO PIPES & DRUMS

Celtic Colorado Pipes & Drums is comprised of pipers and drummers from different bands and solo musicians from throughout Colorado. They play traditional Celtic music, but focus on playing with other instruments not normally considered Celtic in nature. The blend of bagpipes and drums with brass, woodwinds and/or stringed instruments must be felt to be believed. When you see and hear them play, you will feel the heritage of the Celtic culture shine through.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGHLAND DANCERS

Rocky Mountain Highland Dancers are an organization dedicated to the preservation and expression of Scottish history and culture through dance. The Rocky Mountain Highland Dancers (RMHD) perform throughout the Rocky Mountain Region, often accompanied by a live piper or an entire pipe band. Most of their dance members compete and you’ll find them winning at competitions around the nation and the world. RMHD’s mission is to serve the best interests of the dancers and the highland dance community while promoting highland dancing and keeping it alive in Colorado. It has been over 30 years since RMHD became an organization and they are still going strong.

CELTIC STEPS IRISH DANCE SCHOOL

Celtic Steps is an Irish dance school based in Colorado, known for its premier performances and commitment to promoting Irish culture through dance. Offering classes for dancers of all ages and skill levels, focusing on traditional Irish dance techniques and choreography.
Celtic Steps participates in competitions and showcases both locally and internationally, showcasing the talents of its students.

TODD TESKE, TENOR

An early and highly accomplished member of the trumpet section of the Aries Brass Quintet and Denver Brass, Todd Teske’s career turned to vocal performance in the mid 1990’s. He has performed opera and oratorio throughout the United States, Germany, and Morocco. Recent performances include tenor soloist in Bach cantatas with Colorado Bach Ensemble and Taylor Choir of Colorado Springs, and Handel’s Messiah with Parish House Baroque and the Colorado Springs Chorale. In 2018 Mr. Teske premiered the role of The Scientist in the opera Locust by Guzzo in Jackson, WY. The cast enjoyed two reprisals in Laramie and Agadir, Morocco, with additional performances coming in France and Scotland. Todd made his Washington D.C. Kennedy Center solo debut in Handel’s L’Állegro il Penseroso for the Mark Morris Dance Group and his European opera debut at Giessen Stadttheater in Germany performing the titular roles in Milhaud’s Le Pauvre Matelot and the world premiere of Jean Francaix’s Le Diable Boiteux.