Play harmonica, start your own music group!

This reminds me of how much Ken Kennedy's harmonica adds to our sound when we play together as Raspberry Tea.
A four-session harmonica workshop with Sharon Hunsberger, a member of The Harmonaires, is being offered at the Mennonite Heritage Center, 565 Yoder Road, Franconia Township. This workshop is scheduled for Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 4, 11, 18, and 25. No previous experience is needed.
A press release from the center points out that "harmonicas are a relatively easy musical instrument to play and are used in many types of music, including folk, country, blues and rock and roll."
The group will go through the musical scale, learn notes, and progress to playing simple tunes. Registration is required and cost is $30 ($25 members), which includes a basic, diatonic harmonica with brass reeds. E-mail info@mhep.org, call (215) 256-3020 or visit www.mhep.org.

Blessing of the balls

This is one of a series of video vignettes at www.thereporteronline.com that compliments a story I've written for Tuesday April 27th's paper on a day in the life of a rabbi.
I'm very proud of the way the whole package turned out.
Your comments are appreciated.

Universal language

May 2, Congregation Tiferet Bet Israel on Skippack Pike in Whitpain hosts the musical duo Noa & Mira. One is Israeli and one is Palestinian. And whaddaya know, they not only coexist, but they make music together, spreading a message of hope and reconciliation to the Holy Land and beyond.

Bernie Allmayer at TBI, who has been ringing my phone non-stop about this concert, tells me their song "There Must Be Another Way" represented Israel in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, held in Moscow. He also says this is their only area stop on their tour of the U.S.

I'm working on getting an interview with these fascinating ladies. Meanwhile, for ticket information, call (610) 275-8797, ext. 144 or go to http://www.tbibluebell.org/.

And who knew?! Burning Bridget Cleary, a high-energy Celtic folk band from Harleysville, just won accolades from http://www.celticradio.net/. Their awards include Album of the Year, and song awards in the Jigs and Reels and Contemporary categories.

They will be performing May 15 at DCP Theater, 795 Ridge Road, Salford Township. Tickets are $15. The concert is a very rare music event at the Dutch Country Playhouse, which is a benefit for the community theater.