As much we like our in-person events, we’ve decided to stay on Zoom for Winter Fèis 2023.

The bonus of being on Zoom is our access to presenters from around the world as well as making the event available to people across the globe bringing Slighe nan Gàidheal and the Gaelic language to more people.

This event starts with an online Céilidh on Friday evening beginning at 6:00pm Pacific Time. Saturday morning we welcome you to join us via Zoom at 9:00am for Meet & Greet. Workshops start at 9:30am. The workshops will include Gàidhlig language activities, songs, tunes, crafts, storytelling, poetry, Cape Breton fiddle, whistle, and more. We will break for lunch from 12:30pm - 1:15pm. Afternoon workshops will end at 4:25pm. Dinner break from 4:30 pm - 5:00pm. Enjoy our evening Céilidh from 5:00pm to 9:00pm.

Both Céilidhs are open to the public for no charge but you must register for the Céilidhs so that we can send you the Zoom link. Workshops are $25.00 each or $75 for an all-day pass. Current Slighe nan Gaidheal members receive a discounted rate of $70 for an all-day pass.

Our classes include:

Songs of the Supernatural: The Faeries and other Mythical Beings with Deirdre Graham

A Few Dan R Cape Breton Fiddle Tunes with Wendy MacIsaac

Bruidhinn agus Beul-Aithris: Conversation, Poetry, and Folklore with Angela MacEachen

Songs of South Uist with Kathleen MacInnes

Tunes for the Whistle: Some New and Some Familiar with Elias Alexander

Anail do Bheoil - Breath of Thy Mouth: Exploring Gaelic Oral Traditions with Tracy Chipman

Women, Water, and Transformation in Song and Folklore with Sean Williams

Making Gàidhlig Greeting Cards with Tartan Scraps for Valentine’s Day and more with Josephine Hoskins

Spilling the Tea on the Sith: What Does Traditional Literature Really Tell Us About the Other People with Seumas Gagne

Waulking in a Winter Wonderland: Sing some familiar and less familiar waulking songs with Penny McLeod DeGraff

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR OUR ZERO TO GAELIC (Z2G) PROGRAM WITH THREE LEVELS OF PROGRESSIVE INSTRUCTION, PLUS OUR CEUM SUAS GROUP FOR ONGOING AND ADVANCED LEARNERS. THE 2022-23 SEASON WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM ON THE FOLLOWING DATES & TIMES—A TOTAL OF SIXTEEN 90 MINUTE SESSIONS.

ABOUT FÈIS SEATTLE

Embrace a living tradition! We bring together a thriving community of Scottish Gaelic language, music, and culture with tradition bearers from Scotland and Cape Breton. Evening cèilidhs, walks on the beach, waulking the tweed, visiting with old friends, and making new ones... It’s the Highland way!

Whether you’re interested in fiddle, harp, whistle, guitar, Gaelic song or language, we have something for everyone.

Covid-19 Requirements as of Sunday, March 13, 2022:

We have been closely monitoring the current situation and rapidly changing requirements. We will be following CDC and State requirements to use best practices to keep our presenters and attendees safe during the Fèis. We will be requiring proof of vaccination from attendees. Documentation should be emailed to feis@slighe.org. If you have a medical exemption, we ask that you provide a copy of the exemption as well as a negative test result taken 24 hours prior to checking in at the Fèis. Anyone may wear a mask at the Fèis if they choose! We will update our requirements as we get nearer to the end of June.

AREAS OF STUDY

Gaelic Language - If you have never studied Gaelic before or have had minimal exposure to the language, sign up as a Beginner. If you have some Gaelic but have trouble getting past “Hi, how are you?” then the Emerging level is a good choice. Try Advanced if you can carry on short conversations in Gaelic, or Immersion for the total Gaelic experience with limited English.

Our very special guests:
From Scotland: Sophie Stephenson, Margaret Nicolson, Angela MacEachen, and from Cape Breton: Catriona Parsons

Gaelic Song – Study a broad range of songs in this class. Singing is such an important part of Gaelic culture that in addition to being offered as a major subject, there will be ample opportunity for all participants to learn and sing together. Come learn some of the most beautiful melodies in the world.

Song Presenters: Mary Ann Kennedy and James Graham

Gaelic Music –Instrument-specific instruction will be provided in fiddle, harp, guitar and whistle. Students should bring their own instruments. If you play a different instrument, you are welcome to attend classes to learn repertoire and traditions. Indicate your level on the registration form. Evenings will include traditional music sessions for instrumentalists.

Music presenters:
Murdo Cameron – Guitar
Andrew MacPherson - Whistle
Alexis MacIsaac - Fiddle
Judith Cummings – Harp

WHAT CAN I EXPECT?

Registration Check-in begins Tuesday, June 21st at 4:00 p.m. in the main lobby of the Inn. Light refreshments will be available.  Dinner starts at 6:00pm followed by a welcome cèilidh in the School House building starting at 7:20pm

Each morning, after breakfast, we start the day with 30 minutes of Blas na Gaidhlig (Gaelic for all). Then we break out to our major subject classes.  After the lunch break, you will return to the classroom to continue your selected major. 

Each day from 3:00 to 4:00pm you have the opportunity to learn something new in a Short Course class.  The class listing will be available in your program.  Our tutors will each choose a topic of cultural, historical, or musical interest to branch out from our main focus of study.

In true Scottish style, each evening we will have a cèilidh and music session opportunities.  Other special events include cèilidh or step dancing, a waulking demonstration, and salmon dinner on Friday night at the beach. Saturday is our final cèilidh featuring our students.

Accommodations and meals will be provided with your registration at Seabeck Conference Center. (Rooms for single and double occupancy with twin beds will be available.) Indicate on the registration form if you prefer a single room. There are a limited number of single rooms and they are in a building with stairs. All rooms include bedding and towels.  Students may designate a friend to share a room with.  When you register, please let us know the name of this person.  If you do not select someone, you will be assigned with a student with similar preferences. For those students with mobility issues, there a limited number of ADA rooms.  Please contact us right away at feis@slighe.org to request one of these units.

Age Requirements: Classes at the Fèis are geared toward teenage through adult students. If you are under 18, your parent or guardian must register for the Fèis and attend with you. If you are the parent of a pre-teen who you think could participate in adult classes successfully, contact us at feis@slighe.org to discuss proper placement.

Questions? Send questions to feis@slighe.org

Link to Registration on Eventbrite:

As much we like our in-person events, due to Covid and it’s new variants, we’ve decided to stay on Zoom for Winter Fèis 2022.

The bonus of being on Zoom is our access to presenters from the UK, Cape Breton and Vancouver BC as well as making the event available to people across the globe bringing Slighe and the Gaelic language to more people.

Friday night-28 January- ceilidh starts things rolling . Saturday classes and late afternoon ceilidh will round out the event.  

We have some great presenters in our line-up:

Dr. Michael Newton - Dr. Newton received his PhD from University of Edinburgh in 1998. A Former Assistant Professor of Celtic Studies at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, Dr. Newton has authored numerous articles and books on the many aspects of Highland traditions and History of Scotland in North America. He served as editor of the Celts in America ( BU Press) and Dùthchas na Gaidheal:  Selected Essays of John MacInnes, which won the Saltaire Society Research Book Award of 2006.

Gillebride Mac IlleMhaoil - Gillebrìde  is a traditional singer from Milton, South Uist. Gàidhlig is his primary language having grown up in a family with strong Gàidhlig traditions and songs that were a very important part of family life. In addition to his many musical and language talents, he stars as Gwyllyn the Bard on Outlander.  He teaches at University of Glasgow and has several recordings of his singing work. He is a Mòd Gold Medal winner.

Ewen Henderson - Ewen hails from Fort William, Lochaber. He’s a multi-instrumentalist and Gàidhlig singer. He performs on fiddle, piano, penny whistles and bagpipes besides singing in Gàidhlig.  Ewen is a fluent Gàidhlig speaker.  He is also a founding member of Mànran and performs with them, Afro Celts and other groups as well as many other groups. He formerly performed with the Battlefield Band. He has numerous CD recordings both solo and with the groups mentioned above.  He is also an avid Shinty follower.

Gary Innes - Gary is a gifted musician, former International Shinty Champion, composer, broadcaster, radio personality and accordion player extraordinaire from Spean Bridge, Lochaber. He regularly performs with Mànran, a band he helped found, at various musical events from festivals to Royal Engagements, concerts and other venues.  He has performed with Mànran, Ewen Henderson, Runrig and many others! Gary was the 2017 Hand Up for Trads Instrumentalist of the year. He is an outstanding teacher and brings the cràic to ceilidhs and classes!

Rich Hill - Rich is one of the original founders of Slighe nan Gaidheal and has been a Gàidhlig teacher in the Seattle area for over 30 years.  He first heard Gàidhlig spoken as a child growing up in Wyoming. He has taught dozens of students over the years through private classes and in the GID program through Slighe nan Gaidheal. He currently teaches the Ceum Suas class for the Z2G. Besides teaching the language, he is an accomplished singer and musician not only in the Gàidhlig format, but also Medieval music as well.  He is a member of The Beltaine Boys and Keltoi Celtic music groups. Keltoi has produced several recordings. Rich enjoys sharing the songs, language and traditions of the Gaels with his students!

Seumas Gagne - Seumas is a co-founder and longtime member of Slighe nan Gaidheal.  He was a Board member and Music Director of Seirm for many years.  He currently teaches Gaelic level 2 in the Z2G program and has taught language classes in Vancouver, B.C. and Portland, Oregon on the Zoom platform.  He plays harp and fiddle and is a recording artist as well with many projects to his credit. You can follow him on Facebook and through his website http://www.seumasgagne.com or his blog http://seumasgagne.blogspot.com/

Geoff Sammons - Geoff has been an active member of Slighe nan Gaidheal for many years. He has taught various language levels through the GID program.  He served as Treasurer on the Board of Directors and sings in Seirm.  He teaches a number of different continuing education college level classes in the Seattle area as well as regular language classes and workshops.  He teaches classes about Celtic history and regional names of Scotland.  He also speaks Irish Gaelic.

Penny McLeod DeGraff - Penny has worn many hats over the years in her work with Slighe nan Gaidheal from tech support to Board member to her current role as Music Director for Sèirm - Slighe’s Gàidhlig choir. Seirm attended the Mòd in Fort William in 2017 under Penny’s guidance.  She also participates in virtual online Mòd competitions and solo singing competitions. She is an avid Gàidhlig song collector.  Her enthusiasm is contagious!

Fiona Smith - Fiona is a fluent Gàidhlig speaker and has been teaching the language for a number of years. She is very knowledgeable about traditional Gàidhlig Storytelling, the Duine Mhath and myths. She has done some team teaching with Angus MacLeod, too. We are happy to welcome her back again this year to teach about traditional storytelling of the Gaels.

Katie Kent - Katie is a delightful teacher and fiber artist. She will be teaming up for a workshop with Rich Hill about St. Bhrighde . During the workshop Katie will teach participants how to make a St. Brigit’s Cross. Katie is a gifted fiber artist and basket weaver. She has taught for Winter Fèis in the past teaching drop spindle spinning and other wool processing. She can often be found with her friend Barb co-teaching classes or workshops and getting into mischief.

To register for the new beginning class go to Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-beginning-level-1-zero-to-gaelic-session-section-b-registration-133941605949