Ava Sackaroff, 14, of St. Paul, loves Irish music. Ava started her musical journey studying tin whistle. Initially, she tried playing her mom’s tin whistle – she says her mom found her “squeaking away loudly.” Ava was 7 when she began learning the tin whistle at the Center for Irish Music. She has since added flute and bodhrán and recently began to play the harp. Ava loves Irish music and has fallen in love with the harp!
Ava will use her educational grant for the purchase of a Rick Kemper lever harp kit from County Sligo in Ireland. She has selected a harp that uses carbon strings “which are better for playing fast (because I love to play reels!).” Ava has support from a friend who has agreed to assemble and finish the instrument for her.
Ava admits that playing four instruments is challenging. She’s figured out how to keep up on all of them by splitting up her time on a schedule. She plays in the Center for Irish Music’s Advance Youth Ensemble and regularly participates in their performances in the community, as well as youth sessions and family gatherings. Ava competes in the Midwest Fleadh and has traveled to Ireland to participate in the All Ireland Fleadh. Ava dreams of having her own band one day, and touring Ireland playing Irish music.
In the meantime, Ava enjoys playing with her Center for Irish Music friends in a variety of settings, including IMDA’s St. Patrick’s Day Irish Celebration. Ava also enjoys teaching – she’s taught friends and her little brother to play whistle. And Ava has led a music class for young children at a local day care center.
Ava tells us that she is influenced by and heartily encouraged by the instructors at the Center for Irish Music. She loves going to concerts and searches YouTube for good harp players to learn from.
Her recommender tells us that Ava’s “passion for and dedication to the instrument is evident through the hard work she puts into practicing the instrument each week.” She has progressed very quickly on this new instrument. Her recommender feels strongly that Ava’s “harp learning is … but a new chapter in her musical journey that will continue all her life.” This is the second time that Ava has received an IMDA Educational Grant.
The Irish Music and Dance Association is delighted to help this dedicated young musician continue her musical journey.