Violinist

Percussionist

Today’s matinee concert will be presented with two sets and will feature special guest Fishel Michael Bresler! Multi-instrumentalists Cathy Clasper-Torch and Shelley Katsh bring years of music making and friendship to a virtuoso collaboration of musicianship and spirit. Their repertoire, as heard on their previous CD, “From the Inside Out” as well as on their 2024 CD “With Woven Hands” is infused with melodies ancient and contemporary – played “straight from the heart.” Clasper-Torch performs violin, cello, erhu and piano with a diverse range of RI-based bands and musicians, and has recorded on over 3 dozen albums. Cathy has also been the fiddle instructor at Blackstone River Theatre since 2006. Shelley Katsh, on piano and accordion, performed klezmer and Hassidic music with Fishel Bresler and a range of Boston-based klezmer musicians for 20 years. She currently accompanies and sings with several Rhode Island musical groups. Click link for video clip! IMG_1706 Cathy and Shelley will be joined today by Fishel Bresler on clarinet, flute, mandolin, guitar. After performing in venues from the street to Carnegie Hall in styles from bluegrass to vaudeville, Fishel studied klezmer clarinet and mandolin with recognized master Andy Statman. He has toured with mandolinist David Grisman’s ensemble, and spent thousands of hours in Chassidic communities collecting tunes and absorbing the music in its natural setting. For the past four decades, in addition to performing, he has been providing therapeutic music in settings such as Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

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Cathy Clasper-Torch & Shelley Katsh

Blackstone River Theatre

BRT favorites Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly return with Cathy Clasper-Torch on fiddle, cello and vocals to present an engaging concert of traditional American and Celtic American folk songs, a cappella pieces, hymns, poetry, dance tunes, and original works. Elwood and Aubrey blend unusual harmonies and play guitar, Appalachian mountain dulcimer, Irish tin whistle, harmonica, old-time banjo, bones, limberjacks and other musical surprises. Their performance is appealing to all ages, and with humor, audience participation and a highly-relaxed stage presence, Aubrey and Elwood also explain song origins to give more relevance to the material. Atwater-Donnelly has performed widely in the Northeast and other parts of the United States and Great Britain for more than 30 years and their recordings receive international airplay. They have performed and researched folk music extensively in New England, Ireland, England, Prince Edward Island, the Ozarks, and Appalachia. Clasper-Torch performs and records with Shelly Katsh, Ed Sweeney, and many other R.I. artists and is also the long-time fiddle instructor at Blackstone River Theatre. Always a heartwarming concert!

Atwater~Donnelly Trio

Multi-instrumentalists Cathy Clasper-Torch and Shelley Katsh bring years of music making and friendship to a virtuoso collaboration of musicianship and spirit. Their repertoire, as heard on their previous CD, “From the Inside Out” as well as on today’s CD release of “With Woven Hands” is infused with melodies ancient and contemporary – played “straight from the heart.” Clasper-Torch performs violin, cello, erhu and piano with a diverse range of RI-based bands and musicians, and has recorded on over 3 dozen albums. Cathy has also been the fiddle instructor at Blackstone River Theatre since 2006. Shelley Katsh, on piano and accordion, performed klezmer and Hassidic music with Fishel Bresler and a range of Boston-based klezmer musicians for 20 years. She accompanies and sings with several Rhode Island musical groups and is the Music Director of The Miracle Project-New England. Today’s matinee concert will be presented as one hour-long show!

Cathy Clasper-Torch & Shelley Katsh – CD release

Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly return with Cathy Clasper-Torch on fiddle, cello and vocals to present an engaging concert of traditional American and Celtic American folk songs, a cappella pieces, hymns, poetry, dance tunes, and original works. Elwood and Aubrey blend unusual harmonies and play guitar, Appalachian mountain dulcimer, Irish tin whistle, harmonica, old-time banjo, bones, limberjacks and other musical surprises. Their performance is appealing to all ages, and with humor, audience participation and a highly-relaxed stage presence, Aubrey and Elwood also explain song origins to give more relevance to the material. Atwater-Donnelly has performed widely in the Northeast and other parts of the United States and Great Britain for more than 30 years and their recordings receive international airplay. They have performed and researched folk music extensively in New England, Ireland, England, Prince Edward Island, the Ozarks, and Appalachia. Clasper-Torch performs and records with many R.I. artists and is also the long-time fiddle instructor at Blackstone River Theatre.

Atwater-Donnelly Trio

Ed Sweeney honors people and their histories by presenting music that entertains and educates. Through his musical expertise, breadth of knowledge, and wonderful sense of humor, he helps listeners understand the motivations, stories, and culture that have made us who and what we are today. Ed performs a wide-ranging repertoire on 6- and 12-string guitar, 5-string banjo, and fretless banjo. “A Sunday Drive,” which will be released today, is Ed’s ninth recording and takes inspiration from long car rides listening to a eclectic variety of music over the car radio and meeting people as you travel away from home.

Ed Sweeney with Cathy Clasper-Torch

Multi-instrumentalists Cathy Clasper-Torch and Shelley Katsh bring years of music making as well as friendship to a virtuoso collaboration of musicianship and spirit. Their repertoire, as heard on their CD, “From the Inside Out” is infused with both the sublime and lively – melodies ancient and contemporary – played “straight from the heart.” Clasper-Torch performs violin, cello, erhu and piano with a diverse range of RI-based bands and musicians, and has recorded on over 3 dozen albums. Cathy has also been the fiddle instructor at Blackstone River Theatre since 2006. Shelley Katsh, on piano and accordion, performed klezmer and Hassidic music with Fishel Bresler and a range of Boston-based klezmer musicians for 20 years. She accompanies and sings with several Rhode Island musical groups and is the Music Director of The Miracle Project-New England.

Cathy Clasper-Torch and Shelley Katsh / Torrin Ryan and Amy Law

Vendors include: L&N Toasty Totes (handmade pocketbooks, sling bags and more), Scentsy Wickless Candles, Ducharme Creations in Wood (handmade wooden plaques, ornaments and more), Wooden Buttons (Creative and Fun Crochet Children’s wear), Run of the Mill (Picturesque Rhode Island Landmarks From Above), Bells on My Toes (Christmas stockings and decorations), Tree’s Creations, Jane’s Place (crafts in wood and leather), Designs by Diana (Celtic-themed jewelry, artwork, collectibles), Legging Crazy & More (Custom print leggings & Bath and Body Products), Party Time Mixes, BeachArt by Chrissie (handmade wood burned driftwood signs & ocean-themed ornaments: custom orders available), Little Loops Knits, Crios/Cross (Handmade accessories in natural yarns, Brigid crosses, Celtic artwork), Kissable Lips & Make up by Crissy, Aaron Usher Photography, Pampered Chef, Pocasset Wampanoag Creations (native American artwork and jewelry), Jerry Aissis Watercolors, The Willow Grove (Aromatherapy products ethically Made).

BRT Holiday Craft Fair and Festival 2022

BRT favorites Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly return in a band format with Cathy Clasper-Torch on fiddle, cello and vocals and Erin Lobb Mason on bass and vocals to present an engaging concert of traditional American and Celtic American folk songs, a cappella pieces, hymns, poetry, dance tunes, and original works. This concert will celebrate the release of Aubrey and Elwood’s new CD, their 14th album, called “The Boat You Row.” They will also be coming out with their 9th book soon, “Song By Song, Volume II.” Elwood and Aubrey blend unusual vocal harmonies and play guitar, Appalachian mountain dulcimer, Irish tin whistle, harmonica, old-time banjo, bones, limberjacks and other musical surprises. Performances are appealing to all ages, and with humor, audience participation and a highly relaxed stage presence, Aubrey and Elwood also explain song origins to give more relevance to the material. Atwater-Donnelly performs widely in the Northeast and other parts of the U.S. and their recordings receive international airplay. They have performed and researched folk music extensively in New England, Ireland, England, Prince Edward Island, the Ozarks, and Appalachia. Clasper-Torch plays regularly with many ensembles and is also the fiddle instructor at Blackstone River Theatre.

ATWATER~DONNELLY BAND with Cathy Clasper-Torch and Erin Lobb Mason

A modern-day retelling of Homer’s classic. Poetry and humor, the ancient tale of the Trojan War and the modern world collide in this captivating theatrical experience. The setting is simple: the empty theater. The time is now: the present moment. The lone figure onstage is a storyteller—possibly Homer, possibly one of the many bards who followed in his footsteps. He is fated to tell this story throughout history.

Violinist, Percussionist

Cathy Clasper-Torch

Events

Upcoming events

13 - 23 Nov, 2026

An Iliad 2026 · Burbage Theatre Company

Past events

May 3, 2026

Cathy Clasper-Torch & Shelley Katsh · Blackstone River Theatre

Jan 24, 2026

Atwater~Donnelly Trio · Blackstone River Theatre

About

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