Acadia Trad School is about people, culture, and music. The school is located on beautiful Mount Desert Island in the town of Bar Harbor. Two thirds of Mount Desert Island is occupied by Acadia National Park, a beautiful park of mountains, hiking trails, carriage roads for bicycling, and breathtaking ocean views. Situated in the north Atlantic, the island is an excellent place for kayaking, birding, nature hikes and boat tours. Even though millions of people visit Mount Desert Island each year, there are many places were the natural beauty is blanketed by peaceful isolation and quiet.
Acadia Trad School evolved out of a growing traditional music and dance culture that has taken root in New England. The school's executive director, Chuck Donnelly, has been performing traditional music for over a decade in venues and festivals mostly around New England, although occasional music tours have taken him to the west coast of the United States and visits to Ireland for music sessions and festivals. Ric Pomilia (Associate Director and CFO) plays accordion and, while not performing professionally, his love for the music takes him regularly to sessions and music gatherings.
Acadia Trad School distinguishes itself from music camps in that there is a higher emphasis on learning technique and theory than is found at most camps. Classes are held at the College of the Atlantic. The Acadia Trad School also hosts evening concerts that are open to the public.
As the Acadia Trad School matures over time, focus on the world of traditional music and arts will grow from the local "trad scene" to include music forms from all cultures. We consider "traditional music and arts" to include all forms of music and arts that are deeply rooted in cultural expression and have withstood the test of time. However, it is important to recognize that music and art are not static; the forms we promote are not simply records of history. We promote both historical and modern adaptations of the arts that respectfully expand on the voices of the past while passing the voices of the present to the next generation.