Gorsedd

We aim to accomplish three primary goals in the northern Oaken region: to increase the number of full-time and part-time bards; to increase the skill level of all bards; and to increase the audience for bardic activity. To do this, we have set out to do the following things: We provide frequent opportunities for bards to work, either in public or p... urely with other bards. For example we sponsor: bardic activity at every SCA event in the region Bardic Roundhouse, an annual three-day bardic festival Comfort Zone, a series of bards-only evenings the Magic Carpet Kavehane and Jalabba-the Hut, a bardic "Celtistani" coffee house / jalab joint The NOBLE Prize, the annual North Oaken bardic championship Oaken's Eleven - the most merciless and terrifying band of mercenary bards ever to curse the Known World with their verses classes in the bardic arts. We ensure that these opportunites are diverse enough to interest everyone in the community. Some activities are competitive, others are not. They are held at various times of day, from morning to late at night. Most of them specifically encourage diverse performance modes - that is, not only traditional song, spoken word and music, but also performance dance and other physical performance arts such as fire-work. We encourage participation in A&S Faires as performers or judges. We encourage senior bards to mentor others. We foster regional communication in the widely spread bardic community by hosting the Gorsedd mailing list. We publicize our activities through the mailing list, this web site, and via designated points of contact in different parts of the region. We encourage people who don't consider themselves bards to participate. For example, we offer frequent classes in bardic basics and sponsor sing-alongs of popular songs. We encourage those who don't wish to participate to join us as audience. For example, a recent Bardic Roundhouse included an entire track of classes aimed at this community.Read More