Roots run deep, and the women of White Orchid enjoy exploring their cultural heritages, using traditional Celtic music as their vessel and inspiration. With Amy Roark-Oblak on flute, Lindsey Duncan on Celtic harp and Laura Hazelbaker on fiddle, these ladies perform a variety of styles, from the Seven Celtic nations: Eire (Ireland), Alba (Scotland), Cymru (Wales), Briezh (Brittany), Kernow (Cornwall), Mannin (Isle of Man), and Galicia (Spain), as well as some Celtic-inspired tunes of their own. Come prepared to have your toes tap along with rousing dance jigs and reels of Ireland and Scotland, be peacefully soothed by the loving Welsh or Irish airs and ballads, and just perhaps throw off your ties to the harbor, take a chance and join in An Dro, a Breton circle dance.
Meet the Lassies of White Orchid
Amy Roark-Oblak
Amy Roark-Oblak has performed extensively as a orchestral flutist, chamber music performer, solo performer, and steel drummer in the Greater-Cincinnati area, throughout the U.S. and abroad. Amy is the associate principal flutist of the Tulsa Symphony and Tulsa Ballet Orchestra. in Oklahoma She has been a member of the Kentucky Symphony, Hamilton-Fairfield Symphony and Middletown Symphony, and has also performed with Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra, and Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. Amy has performed on stage with Blessid Union of Souls, Celtic group Cherish the Ladies, singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka, Motown's Contours, as well as jazz artist Chris Brubeck. In the US, she has entertained audiences in Chicago, Seattle, New York, Nashville, Lexington, Minneapolis, and Orlando. Abroad, she has performed in Peru, Denmark and Trinidad. Amy began exploring Celtic music five years ago, and quickly grew to love it. A 10th generation descendant of Scots Irishman Daniel Denison (b. 1692 in Ulster, Ireland), Amy feels that exploring & performing Celtic music is one way she can honor her ancestral roots. Aside from performing, Amy has enjoyed teaching a flute studio in the Greater-Cincinnati area for 16 years. In her free time, Amy enjoys backpacking as well as dabbling in photography, gardening and writing. Visit www.amyoblak.com for more information.
Lindsey Duncan
Lindsey Duncan has performed professionally for several years as a harpist and vocalist. She began playing with Renaissance music-and-dance troupes, and now performs a wide variety of music both as a soloist as well as in ensemble, with a focus on the seven Celtic lands. She is a multi-award winner of Scottish and Welsh National harp competitions. She has studied in Scotland with many of the harp-world's leading lights. In 2003, she made her debut at the conference for the International Society of Folk Harps and Craftsmen in Bloomington, Indiana. Her CD, Rolling of the Stone, features original harp and vocal arrangements of Scottish and Medieval/Renaissance music with several Irish, Welsh and Breton selections. Lindsey lives and teaches harp in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she is also a published fantasy author. She believes that language and music are inextricably linked. Please visit www.LindseyDuncan.com for more information.
Laura Hazelbaker
Laura Hazelbaker, being born into an environment where music was the "family business" has given her what most would call an exceptional and well-rounded education. Laura was born & raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. Between orchestral concerts and private bookings, Laura does freelance work at home and in Nashville, among many other destinations. Laura leads her own western swing music group locally (The BuckeyeRoos) singing, playing and coming up with hot arrangements for the band. At present, Laura has been touring the good ol' USA as a band member for legend Ray Price & the Cherokee Cowboys. Laura has performed in the Cincinnati Celtic Festival, Tallstacks Festival, Fine Arts Fund Sampler & has also worked as a musician & performer in several productions for the Cincinnati Children's Theatre, NKU Summer Dinner Theatre and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Nationally & Internationally Laura has perfomed in the USA, Mexico, Canada, England, Scotland, Holland, Belgium and France. Other highlights include several appearances on The Grand Ole Opry, The Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree Radio Show, Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic, Buck Owens Crystal Palace, Radio City Music Hall in NYC and The Kennedy Center in Wash D.C. Most recent TV appearance is in the PBS Special "Last of the Breed." Please visit www.LauraHazelbaker.com for more information.
