(Brushfire, Brushfire, Brushfire, Brushfire...)
Deborah's group, "Brushfire" took first place in the large group division at the folk ensemble contest held in Provo last Saturday. Groups from all over Utah took place and in placing first, the group won $500. Although the crowd and the judges liked all their selections, the wild favorite was "Oh, Susannah! Around the World". Based on the old folk tune, the group arranged it to reflect different cultures, such as from Russia, China, Ireland, and Jamaica (reggae!). This grew out of the group's fatigue in playing "Oh, Susannah" this summer in Europe at every single venue with the Folk Dancers. During practice they began playing around with it so it became more fun to play.
Deborah also was part of a small group (3 people) at the folk music contest. They made it to the finals and eventually took 3rd place, which also had a monetary prize. So it was a very profitable day! (Not if you're worried about homework...) 
On Nov. 10th, a Celtic folk group called FiddleSticks will release a new CD. This is a family group, and the daughter who is the fiddler on the CD is now on a mission. Our Deborah is the replacement fiddler and has been performing with FiddleSticks this fall. They will have a performance at the release of the CD at the Noni auditorium in Provo.
Is Deborah busy with music? Yes, and that's not all! Last Thursday, the 26th, she traveled with Mark Geslison and another guy to Roosevelt, Utah, and performed at an elementary school on an Indian reservation. Mark is the head of all the folk ensembles at BYU.
So, is that all? No, Deborah is part of one more group, but in this one she doesn't play the fiddle, she plays the guitar! "Not quite ready for public performance" could be one way to describe them, but they practice together a couple hours a week.
Is Deborah going to school??? We think so.
Congratulations, Deborah! I thought the title of the blog was announcing the name of her band (I didn't know until now what they had chosen). How exciting that Deborah has so many opportunities to do what she loves. It probably encourages Elle and Alice to practice more too.
ReplyDeleteSo IS Deborah taking classes?!?!
REALLY neat! She is so fun to hear, it's great that she is sharing her talents with others.
ReplyDeleteI have to laugh at the last line of your blog!
ReplyDeleteDeborah SAYS she is taking classes, but it is hard for us to figure out WHEN. Actually, she has 17 credits, I believe, and made her decision to do the folk music AFTER the deadline for dropping classes. (Originally, she had planned on graduating in December.) So her next semester SHOULD be a little easier!
ReplyDeleteWow, Deborah sure is the overachiever! Makes the rest of us Bailey kids look bad. Nevertheless, way to go, Deborah! And way to pick a cool name. Isn't Brushfire the name of that song that Dad wrote in high school?
ReplyDeleteok, just to help out the confusion, yes, I am taking classes, and yes, it is a little tricky thinking about homework when all I really want to do is play music all the time. And next semester should be better...I am going to be taking arabic though!
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