Join Dr. Kate Rose and Armand Ramirez for a lively, all-ages interactive performance exploring Arizona’s rich musical heritage through traditional folk music, dance, and storytelling. Featuring live fiddle and guitar, this engaging program reveals how musicians from Celtic, Hispanic, and other traditions adapted their music to new landscapes, exchanged ideas with neighboring communities, and created distinctive regional styles. Along the way, you’ll hear revived Arizona tunes, discover the stories behind them, and even have the chance to join in. Experience how music reflects the beauty of Arizona’s open skies, deep canyons, and vast forests while celebrating the cultural connections that continue to shape our state today.
This program is made possible by Arizona Humanities and is in support of the America 250th initiative to celebrate and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of
Independence.
FORMAT: In-Person – classroom
INSTRUCTION METHOD: Lecture
AGES: All ages welcome
EXPERIENCE LEVEL: All skill levels
PREREQUISITES: None
FEE: Free – registration is required below, seating is limited.
PRSENTERS:
Dr. Kate Rose is a Flagstaff-based fiddler, researcher, and tradition-bearer leading the Wild West Fiddle Project and directing the nonprofit Wild Steps. Having spent two years studying with fiddling farmers in County Clare, Ireland, Dr. Rose brings a deep sense of music as rooted in landscapes and the rhythms of rural life. Her research and unique performing style reveal and revive the cross-cultural music and dance traditions of the American Southwest. She suggests that when we go deep into our own roots, they naturally intermingle with the deep roots of others’ traditions. Her talks, which present history through true stories of Arizona musicians from our past, are often accompanied by master rhythm expert Armand Ramirez (guitar), whose rootedness in Hispanic traditions adds historical depth and musical magic. They perform regularly as the duo Wild World Irish Fiddle: https://www.youtube.com/@WildIrishFiddle.
Armand Ramirez, guitarist, is a master multigenre player with decades of professional musicianship, an amazing ear, and a creative, danceable flair. His wide-ranging experience includes jazz, celtic, classical, flamenco, folks traditions, and Latin music. He is also a passionate researcher of local history and his own family’s rooted Arizona connections, bringing a multidisciplinary approach to cultural storytelling and music.
