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Arts & Entertainment

The Pride of New York

Irish music coming to Trumbull.

The calendar may say that St. Patrick’s Day has passed, but Irish music will fill on Saturday when the Irish quartet Pride of New York plays a benefit concert for the Golden Eagle Marching Band (THSGEMB) at 6:30 p.m.

“We are so very fortunate to have a band of this caliber coming to Trumbull,” said Barbara Whetstone, concert organizer and THSGEMB parent. “The members of Pride of New York include a Grammy winner, an All-Ireland Champion, and an Irish Echo Top Traditional Artist.”

Pride of New York is four Irish Americans with deep roots in Irish culture. “Although we are all born in America,” said Brian Conway, the band’s fiddle player and senior All-Ireland champion and the Irish Echo's Top Traditional Artist for 2008, “all our parents are Irish and we all grew up listening to the music. Our sound is a blend of different regional styles inherited from our parents. It’s very Irish but unique to all four of us.”

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 The other members of the group are Grammy Award-winning tin whistle and flute player Joanie Madden, Billy McComiskey, winner of seven All-Ireland button accordion championships, and celebrated keyboardist Brendan Dolan.

“We have known each other for 30 years or more and have performed in different combinations over the years,” Conway said. They have recently produced their first CD as a group entitled Pride of New York.

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An evening spent with the group is pure fun said Whetstone who saw the band in East Haven in January. “It’s a night of foot stomping music that’s fun for the whole family,” she said.

“While our music is melodious and beautiful,” said Conway. “It’s also funny, lively and even informative. We build this rapport with our audiences that’s just excellent.” 

The Trumbull High School Jazz Band will open for Pride of New York.  The Jazz Band is comprised of some 30plus students and directed by Peter Horton. Horton is also the band director for THSGEMB, the 2010 Musical Arts Conference Champions. 

“This evening is also a great opportunity to hear the high school jazz band,” said Whetstone. “These students are so talented and play in festivals and competitions in Fairfield County.”

The students, freshmen to seniors play alto saxophones, tenor saxophones, baritone saxophones, flutes, trombones, trumpets and clarinets.  Their repertoire includes "Swinging at the Club," by Mike Carubia, "Back Bone," by Thad Jones/rescored by Carubia and "Slip Slidin’", by Carl Strommen.

Tickets for this evening of music cost $20 in advance or $25 at the door.  Tickets can be purchased on the bands website at www.thsgembcorp.com or at the Trumbull Recreation Department, 5892 Main St. For questions please call 203-452-4539, option #4 (Band parent line).

Though they have played to sold out audiences both here and abroad, they are very excited about coming to Trumbull. “We are really looking forward to this concert,” said Conway. “And from what we know about the town, we are looking forward to the warm welcome we known will receive.”

After their trip to Trumbull, Pride of New York will be heading to Cape May in May, the Fleadh Cheoil, Festival of Irish Music in Ireland in August and Philadelphia in September.

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