Afternoon Workshops 2025

At Acadia Trad in 2025 you’ll be able to choose from a diverse range of topics and opportunities to explore the rich musical, dance, and singing traditions we celebrate. Dive into the offerings and start deciding exactly what your path will be this June!

If you have already registered for the festival as a full-time student, you will have access to all of our afternoon offerings as part of your tuition!

If you are not registered, we would still love for you to join us! Check out the listing below, and then buy tickets here. Full-week and daily passes, or individual tickets are all available. (Online workshop sales will be available until June 17. After that, tickets will be available to buy in person each day during the Festival from noon until 3 p.m.)

Click here to download the listings and descriptions below as a pdf.

Jump to workshop type:
Jam Sessions | Community Singing Sessions | Community Social Dance | Ensembles | Enrichment Workshops


Faculty-Led Jam Sessions

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Period 3 (1:15 – 2:30 p.m.)

Come jam under the expert and welcoming guidance of some of your favorite players!  Faculty leaders will help you get the good session energy going, suggesting tunes and helping you tap into your best jamming self. Bring your favorite tunes – you’ll certainly be invited to share them! 

Monday:
Relaxed-pace session with Anastasia DesRoches & Dan Faiella
Fast-paced session with Adam Henley, Cara Wildman & Nicholas Williams

Wednesday:
Relaxed session with Isa Burke & Sophie Wellington
Fast-paced session with Mari Black & Susan MacLean

Friday:
Relaxed session with Ben Gagliardi & Caitlin Warbelow
Fast-paced session with Frances Cunningham & Pascal Gemme


Faculty-Led Community Singing Sessions

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Period 3 (1:15 – 2:30 p.m.)

Singing is a joyous and integral part of so many different folk traditions, and we celebrate that in these community singing sessions!  Faculty leaders will bring some of their favorite songs to teach and sing together as a group, exploring points of style, history and culture, and a bit of vocal skills along the way.  All are welcome to join in the fun, regardless of previous vocal experience!

Monday: Leader – Armand Aromin
Wednesday: Leader – Ben Gagliardi
Friday
: Leader – Nicholas Williams


Faculty-Led Community Social Dance and Open Band

Tuesday and Thursday, Period 3 (1:15 – 2:30 p.m.)

Let’s all come together for a joyful period of community dancing with live music!  Take the floor for fun and accessible social dances from a variety of traditions called by our dance instructors, or bring your instrument and contribute to the open band led by members of our music faculty.  Or hey, why not try both!?  No prior dance experience necessary, as all dances will be taught “from the ground up” during the session.

Tuesday: Caller – Will Mentor
Open Band Leaders – Armand Aromin & Noah Fishman

Thursday: Caller – Will Mentor
Open Band Leaders – Jake Charron & Pascal Gemme


Faculty-Led Ensembles

Every day, Period 4 (3:00 – 4:15 p.m.)

Ever wanted to be in a band with one of your musical heroes?  Well, here’s your chance!  These faculty-led ensembles will give you a chance to experience what it’s like working together as a trad music band.

Ensembles will be progressive, building skills and repertoire over the course of the week and culminating in a group performance at the student concert on Friday night.  Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to attend each band meeting throughout the week.

Acadian / Québecois Ensemble – Yann Falquet and Devon Léger
Celtic Ensemble – Màiri Chaimbeul and Nicole Rabata
Old Time Ensemble – Armand Aromin and Erynn Marshall
*not available for purchase as an individual workshop ticket


Enrichment Workshops

Every afternoon, Periods 3 & 4 (1:15 – 2:30 p.m.  &  3:00 – 4:15 p.m.)

Workshops are your chance to dial into techniques and explore specific areas of the trad world with your faculty instructors! Here’s what’s on the menu this year:

Monday

Click to read individual workshop descriptions for Monday

Tuesday

Click to read individual workshop descriptions for Tuesday

Wednesday

Click to read individual workshop descriptions for Wednesday

Thursday

Click to read individual workshop descriptions for Thursday

Friday

Click to read individual workshop descriptions for Friday


The Acadia Festival of Traditional Music & Dance is governed by Friends of the Acadia Trad Festival, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) Maine nonprofit corporation. Website art by Anabelle Keimach and Annelise Papinsick.