Centre for Social Innovation - Toronto, Ontario
Newfoundland storyteller and balladeer Ellen Power, and guest musicians, Emily Yarascavitch and Charlie McKittrick, lead our second house concert style ceilidh with story and song.
Ellen Power was born in the isolated outport community of South East Bight, on the south coast of Newfoundland. Although raised in St. John’s, Ellen remains connected to the ballad-singing and storytelling traditions of her family—fishermen and traditional singers from Placentia Bay. She has performed at festivals across Newfoundland, including the March Hare Literary Festival and the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival. Singing ballads passed down through generations of Newfoundlanders before her, Ellen uses her voice to keep the old songs alive
Emily Yarascavitch received several titles such as: Junior Canadian Champion, a Grand Masters Junior Showcase Performer, two time Canadian Open Duet Champion and a Canadian Grand Masters Finalist. She is trained in various fiddle styles as well as classical violin through the Royal Conservatory of Music and is a graduate of the University of Waterloo Honours Sciences with Minors in Biology and Music. She currently tours North America professionally with The Tartan Terrors; North America’s Premiere Celtic Event and plays with other solo artists. Emily released her debut CD My Passion in 2009 and released an EP with her trio Branches of Silver in 2015
Emily is no stranger to StoryFusion Cabaret! She accompanied revered storyteller, Carol McGirr, with fiddle tunes for the telling of Blind MacNair at the Butler’s Pantry in 2014, our very first show. This time Emily will be step dancing as well!
Charlie McKittrick is a full-time musician living in Toronto, ON. He gigs regularly, whether it be drumming for bands at festivals, theatres clubs and weddings, or performing solo acoustic guitar and singing in casinos, pubs, resorts and microbreweries in and around the Greater Toronto Area. In 2009 Charlie earned his Bachelor of Music from the University of Windsor where he studied classical music as a percussion major under the direction of Dr. Bryan Malito and Dr. Nicholas Papador. Mr. McKittrick tours North America drumming for The Tartan Terrors (www.tartanterrors.com). In April 2018 Charlie released his debut solo EP called Two Hearts. Included on that release are four original songs. Many more of his songs are ready to be recorded will be released within the coming year.