Over the Water Hurdy-Gurdy Association |
Over the Water Hurdy-Gurdy Association |
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| About the Over the Water Hurdy-Gurdy Association |
| "Why we're here..." |
The Over the Water Hurdy-Gurdy Association had its beginning in 1995 when Cali & Alden Hackmann decided they wanted to learn to play the instrument better. In seeking a teacher, they began a festival that has taken place every year since. Their friend and fellow Hurdy-Gurdy player RT Taylor, introduced them to Pierre Imbert, a master player of the vielle (Hurdy-Gurdy). Pierre helped to establish the Over the Water Hurdy-Gurdy Festival and was one of the first instructors. Sadly. Pierre was lost to a heart attack in 2001.
The goals of the festival that first year have remained the driving force for each succeeding festival - gather together to learn, to share knowledge and fellowship, and to promote the instrument and its traditional use for dance music.
The Over the Water Hurdy-Gurdy Association (OTW for short) is a nonprofit educational organization (501 c3) formed to promote and foster knowledge about and use of the hurdy-gurdy, including music and dances associated with the instrument.
The OTW is a group of hurdy-gurdy players, builders, and aficionados based in Western Washington (USA). We put on French music jams and dances in the Seattle area (with live hurdy-gurdy music, of course) and an annual hurdy-gurdy festival and Saturday dance on the Olympic Peninsula. For more information, please select from the links above or write to us via regular mail (at the address above) or e-mail at info@overthewater.org.
The OTW Board consist of a group of volunteers responsible for the operations of the Over the Water Hurdy-Gurdy Association as well as organizing and administering the festival and other activities each year.
Cali Hackmann, President
Alden Hackmann, Vice President
Joanna Chesnut, Treasurer
Nancy Quense, Secretary
Joanne J. Andrus
Louise J. Craig
Felicia Dale
Katherine S. Roe
You can help the organization in several ways such as volunteering and preparing for events such of the Over the Water Hurdy-Gurdy Festival and/or through donations to the organization. Please see the "Friends" section of the Web site for more details.
For more information on contacting the OTW Festival or the board, please see the "Contact Us" section of this web site.
Last update: April 14, 2008 (LJC)