Okanagan Irish Society Musician/Singer Expression of Interest
WHAT:
The Okanagan Irish Society (OIS) is issuing this expression of interest to persons interested in learning or improving their proficiency playing and/or singing Irish Celtic music.
One and possibly two candidates will be selected and we will (a) provide them loaner musical instruments and (b) subsidize musical lessons for a period of one year minimum.
The closing date to submit the attached expression of interest is 31 March 2019 and our intent is to select the successful applicants by 20 April 2019 at latest.
We currently have four musicians participating in this program and their improvement in playing skills, enthusiasm and work ethic is evidence of the success of this program.
WHO WE ARE:
The OIS is a registered non-profit Society and our constitution and by-laws are governed by the section B of the Society’s Act of British Columbia. Our mandate is to promote the Irish culture within the Canadian mosaic, look after our own in a non-political and non-sectarian manner. We currently have over 120 members and we arrange a number of social functions annually for our members and their friends – social dinner/pub night/sing-along gatherings, Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day dinners, bowling afternoons followed by dinner in the evenings and weekend camping outings.
For the past thirty years we have had a benevolent fund which assists those of our members who are ill or in need. At one point we had Okanagan Irish Society dancers – this is now a private venture. However the Okanagan Irish Society contributes annual bursaries to the Okanagan Society of Irish Dancers – Parents’ Association (OSID-PA).
In addition a number of our members are musicians and singers. They formed a group called “Ceol na hEireann” of The Okanagan Irish Society. They entertain at many of our functions, entertain at a number of senior facilities, put on a fundraising concert for St. Vincent de Paul in the fall each year and put on a theatre production in the spring to aid a Prayer House located in Kelowna. Any time they are asked, they entertain unless previously committed.
We realize that due to the average age of our membership we need to reach out and engage a younger generation to support Irish culture and heritage to ensure its sustainability into the future in the Okanagan Valley.
Fill in and submit the form by Mar 30, 2019.
