(Posted February 12, 2002)

HUNTINGDON. Pa. -- The folk music group Simple Gifts will perform a community music workshop at the Juniata Valley Elementary School at 7 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Shirley Township Elementary School.

The workshop is free and open to the public.

"We encourage adults interested in the workshop to bring instruments or a pair of spoons, but if people don't play an instrument that's OK, too," says Linda Littleton, one of the members of Simple Gifts. "If there aren't many people with instruments, we will probably have a jam session that is interactive with the audience, where we talk about the music and encourage participation."

Simple Gifts and storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston will perform at Juniata as part of the college's Artist Series at 7 p.m. March 16 in Rosenberger Auditorium in Oller Hall.

Two members of Simple Gifts, Littleton and Karen Hirshon, will run the workshop.

Simple Gifts is a three-person folk music group specializing in a variety of ethnic folk music, including such styles as klezmer, Gaelic, gypsy and Balkan traditions. The band members are: Linda Littleton, Rachel Hall and Karen Hirshon.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.