The End of Our Homeschooling Journey

I've been absolutely horrible at blogging since the summer. No excuses other than finding other things to fill my time.

So catching up a bit....

Summer in Dublin was a wonderful experience. We walked all over the city and saw sights we never would have thought to see on a short vacation trip. We spent many days hiking the cliffs of Howth or from Bray to Greystones and took two trips up to Belfast and Giant's Causeway. Haley was fabulous in Riverdance and she loved performing the show and the people she worked with. She loved playing the music and the spaces where she was able to improvise a bit. She enjoyed meeting and making friends with her co-workers. She had her first taste of a real social life with nights out, a few dates, and hanging with friends. I was glad to be there and meet the people she will be touring with for six months beginning in January. Our last week in Killarney was my favorite time. The beginning of the week was sunny and a bit warmer than Dublin. I am not a city-person so preferred the green and the mountains.

While in Dublin, Haley began her final semester of high school and, about halfway through the run, her dual enrollment courses started so she was working hard to meet school deadlines, go to work each evening, and have some time to enjoy the experiences Dublin had to offer. Once we got home from Ireland, eighteen hours later we were on a plane headed to California for a festival with accordion player John Whelan. When we got home from that a day later, we drove to Baltimore, MD for a weekend of music creativity with a new ensemble she is looking forward to working with. A week later, we spent three weeks on the road, driving from NC to Vermont for a tour with Quinn Bachand then south to Philadelphia to visit family, then New York and back to Philadelphia for two gigs with Mick Moloney and friends then home for the month of November.

All the while, she kept up with school on the road. She finished up her final two weeks of dual enrollment courses while putting together and touring A Christmas Celtic S*journ in Boston, MA. My hard-working girl graduated high school in December with a 4.0 GPA and 42 college credits.

She had planned to complete her Associates degree by the time she graduated high school (originally planned for May 2020) by taking the rest of the college courses in Spring 2020 but with the opportunity to tour for six months as fiddler for the 25th Anniversary North American Tour of Riverd*nce, we decided she would graduate early and enjoy tour without the additional pressure of college courses. This provided her the opportunity to determine how much free time she will have for coursework while touring as she transfers to University of North Carolina-Wilmington to earn a Bachelor's degree in International Studies with a concentration in Arts and Literature in the fall. The online degree program will allow her to continue doing what she loves--touring with her music--while completing a degree. All her community college credits will transfer so she is 1/3 through college.

Haley began the 25th Anniversary North American tour in Montreal in January right after New Years and everything was going amazingly well. The company flew her to Dublin, Ireland for a week in February to do their 25th Anniversary shows at the 3Arena, one of which they filmed for movie theaters. Mid-March had her performing at Radio City Music Hall when the coronavirus turned the world sideways. Her daddy and I had flown up for a week to be with her in NYC but by the 3rd day of shows, the company decided to cancel the rest of the tour and we brought her home to North Carolina where we've been quarantined since. (We did go out that first weekend to see Haley on the big screen for the Riverd*nce movie premier then returned to our solitary lives.)

Haley has been keeping herself busy learning Irish, coming up with music projects for herself, practicing, exercising, cooking/baking, blogging, reading, and drawing. Just waiting to see what is going to happen...

Preparation

Being the mother of a musician has been a wild ride.

Since moving to North Carolina last year, Haley and I have spent more time away from home than at home. We've traveled all over the United States from Washington all the way down the west coast to Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Massachusetts, to Canada, and overseas to Thailand and Ireland. She has performed in festivals, competitions, homes, pubs, and other venues.

Now we are preparing to head to Ireland for the summer where Haley will be the fiddler for Riverd*nce. Preparing to be away from home for a little over three months is not easy.

We have both sorted through clothes, narrowed down choices, then weeded out even more until we had what will fit in our suitcases. Haley has researched vegan food options and I have researched places we'd like to visit on off time: art museums, historic museums, Irish music museums, parks, pubs, and sights.

She's also been practicing. She's determined and loves the music so she enjoys it immensely. She is very excited and looking forward to the first show on June 11th!

Check out our other blog www.theversatilevegans.com  to learn how we manage to stay vegan on the road!

The End of Summer

Our summer ended with two weeks in Ireland.

We spent time in Donegal with our friends Mairead and Nia...lots of music, a couple concerts to see, some horseback riding with views of Mt. Errigal, and a ferry ride to Gola (Gabhla) Island complete with a walk around the island and a tea break.

Haley and Mia on Gola Island.

From Donegal we drove to Galway for a session with Haley's friend, Michael, who she met at the Folk Alliance Convention last year. Michael plays in a fun band called Baila An Salsa. In Ennis, we stayed with a lovely father and daughter outside of town. The Fleadh Cheoil in Ennis was very busy and the streets were crowded from the time we arrived on Wednesday until after we left on Sunday.

Haley with our hosts pup who was initially very afraid of us but as you can see  got over it.

Haley hosted two release events in Ennis for her Music for Mercy charity CD and many of the young musicians who donated tracks to the CD were able to be present as well as many wonderful musician friends who came out to support their efforts. (Haley's charity compilation CD can be purchased from her website www.haleyrichardsonmusic.com on the contact page.)

Photo by Bob Singer

Music for Mercy CD release event. Photo courtesy of Bob Singer.

Haley enjoyed a number of excellent sessions in Ennis. She spent an afternoon playing tunes with the wonderful musicians from Socks in the Frying Pan, late night hours in a crowded pub with musician friends from NY and Ireland, and another afternoon with Colman and Damien Connolly and fiddler, Senan Moran.

Haley also competed and won another championship in the Under 15 Fiddle Slow Airs category.

Photo taken by Martin Connolly.

We left Ennis on Sunday morning and drove to Malahide to visit the family of Haley's Studio2Stage partner in crime, Shauna. We had a fabulous couple days being shown the sites around Malahide, going on a viking tour, attending private concerts (by Picture This and The Script), and eating some delicious food. Funny how you can meet some people and feel like you've known them your entire life. 

Haley and I flew home from Ireland on a Wednesday. I worked Thursday and then we drove to Allentown to spend the weekend doing gigs with Dylan and Corey. A show at the Cooperage in Honesdale, PA where Haley learned to make "Jesus" toast afterward with our hosts for the night.

Then a private performance at a wedding anniversary for Haley's friend, Johan De Meij and his wife Dian. Finishing off the weekend with Dylan and Corey's regular Sunday morning gig in Bethlehem, PA.

The end of summer and the beginning of another year of school for Haley. 

10th grade is going to be a busy one. Haley is taking two dual enrollment courses through the community college this semester (Psychology and Art Appreciation- a visit to the National Gallery in London awoke an interest in art for Haley), continuing to learn Irish and French, and working with Miss Kathy on language arts. That takes us through December.

Catching Up...

Haley and I spent most of the month of April on a mini-tour of sorts. We had our first train travel experience with a trip to Charleston, SC where we stayed with our friend, Jim, who had worked to book Haley a few gigs. She enjoyed playing for a lovely crowd at Awendaw Green, a beautiful rustic outdoor "listening room," entertaining the members of the local Rotary club, and performing a fabulous house concert at Folly Beach.

In between performances, we took in as much of the city as possible including the market, a Magnolia Plantation, the Battery, the old neighborhoods and beautiful homes, the beach, and Angel Oak. We also had a nice morning kayak trip (our first) where Haley and I learned how to work together and go fast.

It was a whirlwind visit!

From Charleston, we rented a car and drove to Orlando. We spent a couple days with friends, more like family, who have watched Haley grow up year by year at Swannanoa Gathering. They have a lovely home and we enjoyed their beautiful day lily gardens and art throughout their home, an Irish session with more friends, a trip to the farmer's market where Haley picked up two fabulous dresses for $1 each, and hours and hours sitting around talking and getting to know each other better. It was a fun, relaxing few days.

That weekend we drove out to Ormond Beach for the Ormond Beach Celtic Festival. Our friend, Don, backed Haley for her sets and Haley joined Don and his partner Megan for their sets so they played most of the two festival days.

Daddy flew down the first night of the festival so he could be around to see the second day's performances and then we drove into Orlando to spend a fun four days at Universal Studios, the real reason for all our travel...Haley had said she'd like to see Harry Potter World so we looked for a festival nearby and luckily the festival organizers were keen to have her down to perform. Haley and I rode every roller coaster and fast ride 4-5 times and all the other rides as well. No crowds and beautiful weather! So much fun!

We spent the month of May enjoying life at home with a local gig here and there.

We also spent the last couple weeks preparing for our next adventure which begins tomorrow....THAILAND!! (I cannot believe we are going to Thailand!)  This trip is an unexpected byproduct of the CD Haley produced, Music for Mercy, with the proceeds going to support the Mercy Centre, an orphanage in Bangkok. Mick, one of the musicians who introduced Haley to the Mercy Centre, suggested Haley should visit the orphanage and meet the children. He worked some magic with Father Joe at the Mercy Centre and plans were made...so here we go!
(I will try to not take months to tell that story.)

Life Lately...

We have been so busy I have neglected to blog. 

After Christmas, we had about six weeks off. We organized the house, Haley studied a lot for school, and we enjoyed some relaxing weekends. We eased back into our crazy life with six days in Kansas City, MO where Haley and Dylan had an official showcase at The Folk Alliance International Conference.

Haley and Dylan doing a private showcase in the wee hours of the morning.

The conference was definitely an experience. I got sick on Day 1, so it wasn't as fun for me as it might have been but the kids had a blast! They performed a great official showcase and four private showcases, saw old friends and met new friends, watched/listened to lots of music, played lots of music session-style, and barely slept...some private showcases were at 2am. The entire hotel was taken up by music. There were three floors with private showcases in each room and walls covered in poster advertisements of where people were performing. There were so many conference rooms for official showcases of every type of folk music available to listen to. 

March Madness began with the yearly gig at Cumberland County College where Haley, Dylan, and Corey performed. The following weekend Haley and I headed to NYC for a show on Broadway at Symphony Space with Mick Moloney and friends for A Celtic Appalachian Celebration. Haley spent the entire day working with the other musicians to put the show together then they performed that evening, receiving two standing ovations! The show received wonderful reviews and was fabulous! The next day we were back at Sacred Heart Church in Camden with Mick, Athena, Liz, and Billy for a fundraising concert.

Haley with 2016 NEA National Heritage Fellow, Billy McComisky

Here's what putting a show together looks like...

The view from backstage at Symphony Space.

 Last weekend, Haley had two shows...one at the Philadelphia Art Museum on St. Patrick's Day and the other at Cathedral Basilica in Newark, NJ. 

St. Patrick's Day at the Philadelphia Art Museum (*photo credit to Ray Banas)

This weekend we are slowing down a bit for a performance at a nursing home on Saturday and a packing event for Feed My Starving Children on Sunday.

Besides the many gigs of March, we have been busy...

-We are firming up plans for a three week "tour" in South Carolina and Florida next month. 

-The charity CD for the Mercy Centre Music for Mercy was released two weeks ago and Haley finished getting it up on CDBaby this week... check it out here. The CD is wonderful and I am so proud of all the work Haley and her friend, Patrick Finley, did on the project.

-Haley and I (as her chaperone) were invited by Mick and Father Joe to visit the Mercy Centre in June. Mick has performances planned with Haley at the Irish Embassy and university in Bangkok and she and I will be able to get to know the children who live at the Mercy Centre. We are very excited!!

-We have our summer camp schedule set and registrations are all finished.

-Haley has been working hard on her school courses and learning new classical pieces, happily practicing hours each day.

-I have been fighting a cough since the conference in February.

Making the World a Better Place...

Over two years ago while in Boston for a gig, we stayed with Brian and Lindsay O'Donovan. Brian had invited Haley and Dylan to perform an opener for a weekly live music show he hosts.

As I readied her breakfast that first morning, Haley read a newspaper clipping on the refrigerator about Lindsay and a music CD she had produced called Lullabies of Love. Lindsay had visited an orphanage in Africa, invited various Irish musicians to record a lullaby, then sold the CD and sent the proceeds to that orphanage. Haley immediately told me she'd like to do something like that but with young musicians.

The idea was tabled for a while as Haley, at the time, was working on recording her first solo CD but every once in awhile the next year or so, she'd write down ideas of who she'd like to approach about her idea and we talked about how to go about it. Last March, we were in Boston again and Haley and I talked to Lindsay about her idea and about how Lindsay had produced her own charity CD. After that talk, Haley started planning more seriously. She wrote out a list of young musicians (under 21 years old) from all over the United States, Canada, and Ireland who she has met through Irish music.

Then Haley had to decide on a charity to support with the CD. She wanted to make sure the project would appeal to young musicians from around the world so a more global than local charity and that the money she raised would go toward the children rather than covering high salaries for people in charge. Her first and final choice was The Mercy Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. For the past four years, Haley has been invited to participate in a fundraising concert in New York City for the Mercy Centre. Mick Moloney and Donie Carroll are two wonderful, generous Irish musicians who have supported and visited The Mercy Centre for years. Last year, Haley wanted to do a little more than perform in the concert so she sold her hand decorated mutes and donated the proceeds to the orphanage. The Mercy Center is a home for abused and neglected street kids many of whom have been born with the HIV virus. The Mercy Centre is everything for those who have nothing.

Once she had her list of musicians and charity chosen, Haley composed an introductory letter telling them about her idea and asking if they would be willing to donate a track.

The positive response was overwhelming!

She created a private Facebook page for the musicians to share information. She found a friend, Patrick Finley, who is not only a wonderful young fiddler but also has a gift for graphic design. She and Patrick spent many evenings messaging back and forth to come up with a cover design. Eventually, the tracks started coming in from the amazing young musicians along with bios and photos. Gabriel Donahue, a multitalented musician and generous soul, agreed to mix and master Haley's project so we met with him one evening to go over tracks.

Once all the tracks were submitted, Haley ordered them, sent the order and bios/photos to Patrick to create a pamphlet to go along with the CD, and developed an Indiegogo campaign to raise enough money to print the CDs (along with a bit extra to help pay the shipping costs to mail finished CDs to the participating musicians in Ireland to sell). Please click on the link above if you are interested in learning a bit more about the project.

I am so proud of all the musicians who participated in this charity project. In an age when people often lament the next generation,  on the Music for Mercy CD are over twenty six young musicians who have studied their individual instruments and practiced to a high standard then happily and enthusiastically put those talents to use helping young people in Thailand who are less fortunate than themselves.

Summer Catch-up Post

This summer was a whirlwind of travel, music, and friends. The only complaint I have is that it went by too quickly!!

When we weren't traveling, I was making up patients. Not much time for anything but cleaning up and re-packing. I didn't get any time to blog but thanks to Facebook posts, I can catch up.

The MidAtlantic Fleadh was held late this year. Haley spent her 14th birthday playing tunes with friends the night before competitions. Her friend, Keegan, baked her a delicious cake! The next day Haley took 1st in Under 15 solo fiddle and fiddle slow airs then Sunday she and Keegan took 2nd in Under 18 duets. Keegan was ill so they did not get to compete in the trio competition they had planned with John Whelan.

Haley with her trophies.

Great Fleadh session!!

After the Fleadh weekend, I worked 1.5 days then Haley and I flew to Ashland, Oregon. 

Back in February, Haley was invited by Bill Whelan to perform some of his Riverdance compositions  and compositions by Johan DeMeij with a wind orchestra at a summer college called American Band College. They flew us out, put us up in a hotel, and Haley spent a couple days in rehearsals before the parade and show for the town on July 4th complete with fireworks.

Haley was excited to see former Studio2Stage choreographer Chris was dancing for the show!

She was honored to meet and play with these musicians from Portland and Seattle.

Composer Johan DeMeij conducted the orchestra. He was wonderful to work with- very positive and encouraging!

The morning after the concert, Haley and I flew home. We had two days to wash clothes and re-pack plus I worked eight hours both days then it was time to head to North Carolina for Swannanoa Gathering. On our way, we stopped for a couple days to see Haley's bluegrass fiddler friend, Kitty. We've had a visit each year for the past three years. Haley loves to spend time with Kitty because they  have a lot in common and enjoy each other's company. Kitty invited Haley to join her Old Time band for a local dance. Haley learned the tunes during an afternoon band rehearsal then played along that evening.

Haley and Kitty playing some gypsy jazz together.

Old Time dance in Virginia.

Haley and Kitty

Dylan's band, Poor Man's Gambit, had gigs so we were to pick him up at the airport in Asheville, NC when we arrived. This year at Swannanoa Gathering Dylan volunteered with the sound engineer and Haley volunteered as a "fiddle slave" for Alan's guitar and session classes. At the Welcome meeting the first night of camp, Haley was thrilled when Liz Carroll suggested they perform the "Conn" tunes they wrote for each other at the staff concert on Monday night. (Last year, while sitting on the wall at a huge session, Liz kept asking "Who has the conn?" to find out who was starting the next tune set. Haley thought that was funny and Liz and Haley decided to write tunes about it. Liz sent Haley a tune called "Who Has the Conn?" and Haley wrote back a tune called, "I Have the Conn.") 

It was probably the highlight of Haley's year to be able to perform her own composition with Liz Carroll and John Doyle!!

Swannanoa was amazing as always! There were concerts and sessions galore. Haley and I enjoyed evenings in the staff house listening to stories of concerts and life as a musician.

Fiddle vs. Flute

 Haley found herself in a "strange" situation as a fiddler who decided Kevin's class sounded way too fun to miss. She bought a flute last year and took his flute class this year. When "war" broke out between the flutilla and fiddles, she was a double agent.

Kevin and Haley sporting their flotilla shirts.

Haley with her guitar master, Alan.

Haley and Dylan performed their own compositions at the student showcase.

Swannanoa is a home coming and the people there are family to us. We have known many of the people there for years and they have watched Haley grow up. Each year we meet new friends as well. Because the kids were doing their own volunteer work this year, I had a relaxing week of free time. I read books, took walks, and listened to lots of music! It was wonderful to not drive for a week!!

The weekend after Swannanoa, Haley and Dylan had Studio2Stage. I had my own work to do running errands for the camp but I stayed with our friends, Mike and Norine, while Haley and Dylan stayed on campus. Each day I was given my assignments and at some point during the day, I was able to peek in on the kids or bring them good food.

Haley is right in the middle of the back row on that poster!

Haley and Dylan taking a break during a long rehearsal.

The band minus Anton.

The dancers and musicians worked hard all week putting together a full-scale dance show production.  The musicians wrote a new song...Adam wrote the lyrics and the others composed the music. They arranged a new band set that included some new compositions as well. Haley also had fun doing some v-logging for the musicians during the week. 

Thursday night was Oscar's Night. 

Haley photo-bombing the boys.

The musicians all cleaned up and looking glamorous!

On Friday morning the entire camp traveled into New York City to do a dance flash mob in Times Square. It was raining in the morning but by the time we got off the subway in the city, the sun was shining and their number went off without a hitch.

Haley and Gerlisa

S2S photo op with the naked cowboy.

Musicians

Haley and Sully waiting for the dancing to begin.

On Sunday, they performed two shows. Everyone did an awesome job! 

The band from behind the screen.

Pre-show band photo

Haley and Gerlisa...two beauties!

Haley and her roomie, Emily!

 The next four photos were taken by Matt Ferrara (@sugarysweetmachines.com) during the show...

The weekend after Studio2Stage we had a small fundraiser for Haley and Keegan's trip to Ireland for the All Ireland Fleadh. We are so grateful for the South Jersey and Philly area Irish community for their help in getting these kids of ours to Ireland. Ed and Bonnie Quigley organized the venue and the help. John and Jackie Kelly organized the chance auction. There were too many others helping with food, decorating, and dancing to name everyone without worrying about forgetting someone important...Thank you!!!

A week later it was off to Ireland for us. Keegan, Lynette, Haley, and I traveled together. We flew into Shannon for the first time. At the airport in Philly, our flight was delayed but amazingly, Billy and Annie McComisky were on our flight and Billy, Haley, and Keegan played tunes in the airport while we waited...great way to begin a trip to Ireland!! 

We were very blessed to have Bob Singer open his home to us. He has a nice little cottage right on the ocean at Caharrush Point. What an amazing view! Around that ledge out there are the Cliffs of Moher.

We spent our first day catching up on sleep after our sleepless night flying then Haley and Bob had some tunes in his home while the young artists, Iva and Teresa, from the Czech Republic drew. That evening Bob took us to a session in a tiny little pub.

Photo by Bob Singer.

Photo by Bob Singer

The next day we went off to Ennis to have a look around, get forms we needed for competition day, and have the kids play some music.

Busking on the streets of Ennis.

Ennis!!!

Competition Friday was very busy! Haley had solo fiddle and duets with Keegan at the same time. She and Keegan were supposed to go 7th but since no one was in the room when the competition began, except them, they ended up playing 1st. Then Haley went back to the room for fiddle thinking she could watch for awhile before playing (she was supposed to be 13th) but they called her name as soon as she walked in the room because no one was in there either. She played 2nd or 3rd. She had the same thing happen right after solo fiddle. Everyone was in the room for the results of fiddle then they all left. She stayed because she wanted to listen to all the slow airs. She was supposed to go 15th but ended up having to go 1st in there as well. She played amazingly well and she took 2nd in both Under 15 solo fiddle and slow airs!! She and Keegan didn't place but played their best. Happy day!

Haley all alone in fiddle slow air competition...thanks to Bob Singer for photo.

The next day, Saturday, we watched Keegan compete then sat through the Under 18 solo fiddle. There was some wonderful fiddling and Haley's friend, Patrick, from Georgia placed 1st and her friend, Senan, took 3rd. Saturday night, Haley was super-excited to get to play a session with Colin Farrell. She had missed him at Swannanoa this year. It took a bit of work as the first few pubs we tried to get into were jammed full of people but they eventually found a place to play. The next morning Colin messaged Haley for another quick session before he left Ennis! We met up with our virtual friends, Caitriona and her mother, Roisin, and made the friends in real life!

Haley and Keegan were recorded playing for Fleadh TV on Sunday.

That evening we went back to Miltown Malbay for a session at Friel's Pub. Haley thought it hilarious to find out that she went all the way to Miltown Malbay in Ireland and Cherish the Ladies were the hosts of the session. The music was great and Haley knew all the tunes that way. She didn't want to leave so it was a late night.

Monday morning we left Bob and Caharrush Point. Haley and Keegan spent the morning recording for Clare FM radio with Andy Lamy and friends then we drove to visit friends of Keegan and Lynette for our last few days. It was nice to get away from the bustle (and rain) of Ennis.

Tuesday we drove into Killaloe. What a beautiful town!!

Best pub meal ever in this place!!

 Wednesday morning it was off to Shannon airport and back to the USA for us!! Also an end to our travels...for a couple months at least. (wink, wink)