Woodwind, Irish music highlight MCC concerts
Two March concerts at McHenry County College will feature the popular Second Sunday Concert series at 3 p.m. March 11, with woodwind quintet Winds Off The Lake and a special St. Patrick’s Day concert featuring Irish music and dance at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, both in the Luecht Conference Center.
The Winds Off The Lake is returning to MCC for its 16th Second Sunday concert. Musicians are Sue Childress on flute, Joyce Beernink on clarinet, Kathy Krepel on oboe, Randy Sundell on bassoon and Russ Henning on horn.
Music will include “Great Escape” by E. Bernstein, “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” (wiskbroom version) by Dukas, “Horn Quintet” by Mozart, “Peter and the Wolf” by Prokofiev, with special guest Brian Sager as narrator.
A piano duet and other selections will be featured. A reception will follow the concert.
The St. Patrick’s Day concert March 14 will feature Pat Gaughan and Joe Wadz, who will perform favorite Irish songs, ballads and instrumental tunes. Gaughan’s intricate guitar work compliments her rich voice, accompanied by Wadz’s virtuosic mandolin and fiddle playing.
Gaughan is an adjunct music instructor at MCC, and Wadz, originally classically trained on the violin, has become well-versed in North American and Celtic folk music over the years. Together, they perform throughout the Midwest, playing at clubs, festivals, colleges, and headlining concert series.
The McNulty Irish Dancers will also perform traditional Irish jigs, reels and hornpipes, both in soft shoe and hard shoe. The McNulty School of Irish Dance is one of the largest, most active dance schools in the Midwest.
McNulty Dancers are recognized internationally as world, national and Midwest regional champions.
The March concerts are free. The college is at 8900 Route 14 in Crystal Lake. For details, call Michael Hillstrom at (815) 479-7814.