Teaching
WORKSHOPS and CLASSES
SINGER WITHIN
This class is for anyone who wants to find or develop his or her voice. You will learn basic singing skills in a very safe environment where you can explore and develop your unique instrument - your voice. This is not a performance-oriented class, nor is it about building repertoire; it is a class where you get permission to find and bring your inner singer out to play while learning the basic skills of breath and body support.
Singer Within Classes are held regularly with Capitola Parks & Recreation Department:
IRISH TRADITIONAL SINGING
Sean-nós (old - style) singing defines Irish traditional singing. In this series of classes you will learn to sing some jewels from the Irish tradition as well as gain some understanding of the style. Songs will be taught in Irish (Gaelic) with the help of phonetics. The class builds repertoire, using repetition so it is important you attend all sessions to really learn the songs. The songs will be taught aurally (we will not use sheet music), so bring a recording device!
Irish traditional Singing classes are held regularly in Capitola, Santa Cruz on alternate Saturday mornings.
For more infomation, please email Mary Mc Laughlin
INDIVIDUAL LESSONS FOR ADULTS & TEENS
Individual lessons can either be 30 minutes, 45 minutes or 60 minutes long and you will get individual customized attention to:
• help you build your confidence
• acquire new skills
• make the transition from practicing to performing
All styles, ages and levels are welcome. Mary specializes in Irish / Gaelic singing style.
MARY'S TEACHING CREDENTIALS
Apart from over 25 years experience of being an international singer, performer and recording artist, Mary holds an MA in Ritual Chant and Song, a graduate certificate of general education and a certificate of vocal music education. She is also a certified life-coach and has spent many years studying performance technique in London and California.
Mary has spoken and sung in Gaelic since the age of eleven and has studied with some of the top Sean -nós (Gaelic) singers in Donegal today.
She has taught vocal and performance technique to adults through the United States at camps and festivals and spent over twenty years as both a classroom teacher and professional development provider for teachers.
She is currently the arts coordinator for county schools in Santa Cruz California as well as the director of Mary Mc Laughlin’s Cór Ainglí.
WHAT THE PARTICIPANTS SAY
Mary was spectacular! Her professionalism, talent and enthusiasm meant that her students benefited from really excellent instruction. Her teaching style includes but is by no means limited to Irish singing. Her all camp workshops got everyone singing in an atmosphere that was supportive and creative; even a couple of folks who hadn’t sung since childhood responded positively to her work.
David Moore (Director North east Dulcimer Symposium)
Mary Mc Laughlin, a fabulous Celtic musician, gave personalizes and supportive lessons in voice as well as the only meaningful and effective performance counter-anxiety advice that has ever worked for me!
Renee (Office Manager)
Mary Mc Laughlin’s workshops were inspirational. She has a magic way about her that brings people together and makes the hearts of those around her sing. Even her songs in Gaelic are presented in such a simple and engaging fashion that both children and adults could understand and participate. Mary Mc Laughlin is one of Ireland’s secret treasures.
Melanie (Storyteller, puppeteer)
I just wanted to let you know that I am a person with little talent for foreign language and music, but your workshop was easy, enlightening and fun, allowing me to learn Gaelic in a memorable way with song.
Francis (Health Inspector)
Mary Mc Laughlin’s workshops are magical! She leads you on the path to open your voice and your heart. You’ll learn folk tunes in English and Gaelic about the old days and the old ways as well as about mythological heroes and heroines of yesterday and today. the experience of one of these workshops will stay with you for ever.
Janet (Space Scientist)
Just wanted to say thank you for such a wonderful workshop. I really enjoyed learning new songs in a new language. In my voice classes I've learned songs in Italian, German, Spanish and French but haven't enjoyed them as much as the songs I learned today. I look forward to your book and CD with more music to learn!
Maureen
Biography
BACKGROUND
Mary Mc Laughlin is a singer / songwriter / teacher who is steeped in the Ulster Gaelic song tradition of her native Ireland where she was born and raised.
Mary records, performs and teaches workshops in singing skills, performance technique and Gaelic song and culture. She has toured extensively throughout North America teaching and performing at Celtic / Irish camps. She teaches singing skills and technique as well as the Irish style of singing and is much sought after in Northern California where she now lives.
PERFORMING
Mary lived for many years in London and performed on the English Folk Scene, singing and playing guitar and keyboards with various groups including the Folk Rock group Traitor’s Gait; Anonyma (a duo with singer-songwriter Anne Lister), with whom she still periodically tours in the UK; multi- instrumentalist Steafán Hannigan and the Martin Simpson Band.
In 1997 Mary moved to California. Over the last decade and a half she has toured extensively throughout the USA with various ensembles and bands (including Martin Simpson’s U.S. band, and Celtic guitarists Robin Bullock and William Coulter). She has also performed with Bay Area musicians Neal Hellman, Danny Carnahan, Libby Mc Laren and Robin Flower, and currently performs with harper Steve Coulter and guitarist Bruce Abrams.
CHORAL WORK
Mary is known for her ability to arrange traditional Irish material chorally as well as her singing, writing and teaching abilities. In 2007 she founded a sacred Gaelic Choir Mary Mc Laughlin’s Cór Ainglí in Santa Cruz, N. California. Mary solos with the 25 piece choir conducted by Kathleen Loveless and accompanied by a band of Celtic musicans. http://www.coraingli.com/
Through 2011 she performed in a theatrical/dance production, Selkie Tides, based on the Scottish Selkie legends, conceived and directed by Sharon Took-Zozaya. Mary led a small chorus (pictured below.) This show will be performed again at the Santa Cruz Fringe Festival in July 2012.
TEACHING
Mary initially completed a BA and graduate teaching certificate at London University and has both taught in schools and colleges as well as privately, in the UK and the USA.
Having initially trained in vocal technique in England with the acclaimed vocal teacher Frankie Armstrong, Mary formalized her training in 1995 by acquiring a Certificate of Vocal Music Education from Trinity College London. In 2010 she went back to Ireland to study for an MA in Ritual Chant and Song at Limerick University where she specialized in the fairy / mythological songs of Ireland as well as Latin plainchant and the Irish tradiiton of Keening.
She currently teaches singing technique / skills, and Gaelic singing, in Santa Cruz California, as well as guesting at festivals and workshops.
RECORDING
Her solo recording career got launched in 1991 with The Daughter of Lir, produced by international producer Jon Jacobs who had worked on many of the Beatles’ projects.
The lead track Sealwoman headed off Narada’s 1995 Celtic Voices which reached #3 in the Billboard charts and introduced Mary to an international audience.
She has released four solo albums and two teaching books, sang the theme song for the PBS special Lost Liners, contributed to 13 compilation albums on major labels and had her Gaelic Christmas album nominated for the international JPF Indie awards
2012 sees Mary back in the studio recording her new album Sacred Days, Mythic Ways, an album which brings together her two passions - the ancient songs of sacred Ireland and songs based on Celtic Mythology. The album is due for release early Autumn 2012.
See home page for details.
In addition Gourd music is releasing a retrospective compilation called The Mary Mc Laughlin Storybook, drawing on three of her previous albums. This album will be released on ITUNES only in late summer.
DISCOGRAPHY (SEE STORE TO PURCHASE AVAILABLE CDS)
SOLO
A Gaelic Christmas CD / Song book Rowan Records (Distribution: Gourd Music)
Crystal Shoe Rowan Records (Distribution: Gourd Music)
Singing in Irish Gaelic Book / CD set Mel Bay Publishing
Daughter of Lir Rowan Records (Distribution: Gourd Music)
Celtic Requiem Windham Hill / BMG
COMPILATIONS
Celtic Circle Sony BMG
Celtic Circle 2 Sony BMG
Celtic Legacy Sony BMG
Celtic Sampler Sony BMG
Narada Decade Two” Narada
Faire Celts NaradaWorld
Celtic Song NaradaWorld
Celtic Dream Windham Hill/Hay House
Celtic Inspirations Windham Hill
The Echoes Living Room Concerts Vol. 4 Echodisc
Conversations with God disc 2 Windham Hill
Narada World Narada Collection Series
Celtic Voices: Women of Song Narada Media
CONTRIBUTIONS TO OTHER ALBUMS
Lost Liners(soundtrack for PBS show) Michael Whalen PBS Recordings
Celtic Crossroads John Whelan & Friends Narada
A Flame in Avalon Anne Lister Hearthfire
Heading Home Christine Kydd Fellside Recordings
Burnt Feathers Anonyma Fellside Recordings
True Dare or Promise Martin and Jessica Simpson Topic
Poor Young Willie Traitors Gait Waterline Music
3d Off Traitors Gait Waterline Music
Choir
Cór Ainglí 2011
Fourth row: Eileen Mihm, Wendy Wade, Edward Sims, Marc Reeves, Máirtín Mac An Ghoill, Steven Westfold, John Hopkins
Third row: Lisa Rice, Breige Gormley-Walbidge, Laura Schanzar. Kathy Welch, Carol Thompson
Second row: Katy Hopkins, Kathleen Dixon, Sadie Reeves, Ellen Mc Carthy, Carolyn Crocker, Audrey Nickel
Front row: Jennie Siegmund, Katie Loveless, Mary Mc Laughlin, Laura Reeves, Kathy Fieberling
Missing from photograph: Gael Norrington, Page Brownton
NOW RECRUITING FOR 2012 CONCERTS
CONTACT MARY MC LAUGHLIN IF INTERESTED
About Mary Mc Laughlin’s Cór Ainglí
Mary Mc Laughlin's Cór Ainglí (Angelic Choir) is a 25 piece SATB Irish (Gaelic) choir based in Santa Cruz California. Mary formed this choir in 2006 to perform Gaelic Christmas songs. Mary Mc Laughlin's Cór Ainglí has continued to develop and grow and is performing six times this Fall in the Bay Area!
It is a unique choir for several reasons: the material is 90% Irish Gaelic and the songs are from the Gaelic sacred tradiiton. Added to that the director (Mary) is the soloist and the conductor (Katie Loveless) is also a featured singer.
Although this choir began as a community choir the standard has been steadily rising and the 2011 Cór Ainglí is the best combination yet in terms of both musicality and ease with the material.
Joining Cór Ainglí
Mary teaches through phonetics so there is no requirement to be able to read Gaelic. Likewise there is no requirement to be able to read music for those who are aural learners.There is, however, a requirement to be able to sing on pitch, to hold a part in a choir that sings three and four parts and to blend with others in the choir. On joining, singers are given audio visual aids to help them learn the material.
This choir requires a high level of commitment :
- workshops for learning new material are held throughout August (Sunday afternoons from 1:30 - 4:30)
- singers are expected to learn the material thoroughly in preparation for September rehearsals
- rehearsals are Sunday afternoons from 1:30 - 4:30 from September through December
- there are 3 - 6 concerts during November / December
The solos are performed by Mary and small ensembles which are chosen by Mary and conductor Katie Loveless.
For more information and details of 2012 recruitment please see www.coraingli.com or email
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Gaelic Christmas Concerts 2012
(in California Bay Area)
Dec 8th - Holy Cross Catholic Church Santa Cruz, with Cor Aingli. (www.coraingli.com)
More Dates coming soon!
FOR ALL TICKETING INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT: (www.coraingli.com)
Calendar