By Rick Wright

Staff Writer

 Cape Elizabeth native Leslie Anne Harrison plays flute for New Time Ensemble, which just released its first album, “A Year In Ireland.”  Harrison, a 2003 Cape Elizabeth High School graduate, has a Bachelor of Music degree from Ithaca College and a Master of Music degree from New York University. She currently is pursuing a Master of Arts degree in traditional Irish flute at the University of Limerick in Ireland.

Harrison has won many awards and distinctions. Besides performing in Ireland, she has performed in Italy and Peru. Last summer, she was cast as the flutist for a production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” at Delacorte Theater in New York City’s Central Park.

New Time Ensemble’s USA tour starts next month. The group will play in Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont. Dates and locations can be found at Myspace.

How did you get interested in music? 

I started playing piano when I was young, then picked up the flute as well. I started studying with a flutist named Nicole Rabata. I then studied with another flutist named Carl Dimow. Carl and Nicole had tremendous influence on me. They are incredible players and dedicated teachers. I don’t know what I would have done without them.

Do you play any instruments besides the flute? 

I play piano and piccolo as well. I currently teach piano in addition to flute.

How did you acquire an interest in Irish music? 

Nicole Rabata moved away to Ireland for a period of time. She came back playing amazing music! This hooked my interest. Then I started playing the music when I moved to London and then New York – there are big session scenes in both of these cities. Sessions are a standard occurrence in Irish Traditional music. They are very  informal gatherings of musicians, usually in pubs. 

Why did you move to Ireland? 

I moved to Ireland in August of 2009 to study traditional Irish music at the University of Limerick. It’s really the only program of its kind in existence – I felt like it was an opportunity that couldn’t be passed up.

How did you get involved with New Time Ensemble? 

New Time Ensemble was Liz Davis Maxfield’s idea (our cellist). She and I had just met in August and she approached me with this idea in November. Frédéric Pouille (guitar) and Kay Vickers (fiddle) joined and we started rehearsing in January of 2010.

 What kind of music does New Time play? 

New Time Ensemble plays traditional Irish dance tunes, but we form our own arrangements of them. Between the four of us we have an interesting mix of nationalities and experiences – it makes for interesting music as well. We are flute, fiddle, guitar and cello. I’m from America and classically trained. Kay is from Scotland and has played ceilis from a young age – she plays with an enormous sound and amazing energy. Fred is from France but has lived everywhere – his guitar playing is extremely eclectic and very unique. Liz, from Utah, is the first cellist to ever attend the program at the University of Limerick. She was actually granted a Fulbright in order to study how Irish fiddle techniques can be translated to the cello.

Where have you played with New Time? 

We’ve played for Ceili House on RTÉ One. Ceili House is a very popular radio program in Ireland that showcases traditional music. We also played around Limerick, where we’re based. Our most recent concerts were CD release parties at The Drum at the University of Limerick and at the U.S. Embassy in Dublin.

 Tell me about New Time’s first album- “A Year In Ireland.” 

The album is a culmination of our work together over the past four months. It contains our original arrangements, as well as one by Andrew Maxfield and one by Brian Finnegan (formerly of Flook).  We feel particularly honored because we have several guest artists on the CD as well: Sean Ó Fearghail (fiddle), Siobhan O’Connell (concertina), Tommy Fitzharris (whistle), and Sandra Joyce (voice).  Tommy is an all-Ireland winner. Sandra, the director of the master’s program at the University of Limerick, is a well-known singer and teacher and very rarely records – we are very excited that she agreed to work with us.  

 When was the last time you performed in the U.S.? 

This is New Time’s debut in the U.S. Kay and Fred have never performed in the U.S. Liz and I last performed in the U.S. about a year ago (separately, we didn’t know each other then).

How do you feel about playing in Cape Elizabeth June 5? 

We’re very excited to come to Cape Elizabeth. I don’t get to perform in my hometown much anymore so it will be so wonderful to return. There are so many people from home who offered encouragement and support over the years – through high school, college and beyond – I’m thrilled at the idea of seeing them again. I’ve also been telling my bandmates that Maine is the most beautiful place in the world – they are very excited to see it for the first time.

What’s next for you and your group? 

Right now we have tentative plans to tour Ireland, Scotland and France in January. We might be working remotely though, considering we all might be in different countries.

Rick Wright can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 237 or news@inthesentry.com.

Concert schedule

June 2: Blue, 8 p.m., 650A Congress St., Portland, donation at the door.

June 4: The Grand, 7:30 p.m., 165 Main St., Ellsworth, $12/$15, Call: 667-9500.

June 5: United Methodist Church, 8 p.m., 280 Ocean House Road, Cape Elizabeth, $10/$12, tickets sold at the door.