11 April 2015

Featuring:

Dance music by fiddler Deby Benton Grosjean and pianist Andy Imbrie from California.

Deby Benton Grosjean is a Celtic fiddler who combines the precision of classical technique with the freedom of traditional music. Having studied orchestration at University of California Santa Cruz, Deby weaves her fiddle skills throughout varied ensemble settings. Besides her well-received debut CD Beyond the Shore she has appeared on many other recordings and on the NPR program "Echoes" hosted by John Diliberto. Deby has reigned as the Pacific Coastal Scottish Fiddle Champion since 1995, and is an award-winner in national competitions as well. A teacher of distinction, Deby is fortunate for many years to be on the faculty at Alasdair Fraser's Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School. For over twenty years, she has conducted orchestras and taught string players in the Cabrillo Strings/Suzuki Music Program at Cabrillo College, California. In the summer, Deby teaches and assists in the running of two Celtic Music Camps, one for teens and another for children through Community Music of Santa Cruz. Deby loves to fiddle for happy feet, and besides Scottish country dance, regularly plays for Irish, English country, and contra dancing.

Andy Imbrie has had the good fortune to accompany some of today's leading Celtic fiddle talent, including Deby Benton Grosjean, Judi Nicolson, Calum MacKinnon, Ryan McKasson, Hanneke Cassel, and David Knight. He leads the Reel of Seven Scottish dance band, and is pleased that they their third CD is in the works! Their first two CDs Dance for Joy (2009) and Dance for Joy Encore! (2012) were released to wide acclaim. He appears on six other CDs for dancing and listening. Andy began Scottish Country Dancing in Berkeley in 1977, earned his preliminary pass teacher's certificate in 1984, and one day hopes to find time to train for the full certificate. He began studying classical piano as a child, and started playing for Scottish Country Dancing in 1984 with the encouragement of Kim McGarrity and Barbara McOwen. He plays regularly for dances throughout the US and Canada, and has been on music staff for several tours, including two to New Zealand and one to Scotland, Orkney, and the Shetland Islands. He has also been on staff at TAC Summer School and Pinewoods and was honored to have been invited to teach piano accompaniment at the Valley of the Moon Scottish fiddling school for several years.

Deby and Andy playing for a class in Portland (Photo by Cynthia SooHoo)

Ball registrar: Tom Harries, e-mail: registrar [at] rscds-twincities.org

Hospitality may be available for out of town guests in the homes of local dancers. Please indicate your needs on the registration form or, if you are registering online, email Carol Mordorski: carol.mordorski [at] metc.state.mn.us

Nathan Wilkowski, e-mail: nateumsemail [at] yahoo.com

*Devisor is a current or former RSCDS Twin Cities Branch Member

Download ball dance instructions (PDF)