French harpist highlights a list of music events coming to the Metairie library

French harpist Claire Le Fur will perform at 2 p.m. May 5  at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. Le Fur also will lead a master class for local harpists at 12:15 p.m. 

Le Fur studied at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris with Micheline Kahn, Marie-Claire Jamet and Catherine Michel and received an advanced diploma as a concert performer.

In 1993, Le Fur created a Caribbean Music festival on the French Island of Martinique, titled “Days of the Harp,” bringing together harpists from different cultures, as well as other musicians, such as flutists, guitarists, clarinetists, violinists and vocalists. The Journees de la Harpe Festival takes place each year in November.

She regularly performs French Creole traditional music with her quintet “Les Alizés” (Trade Winds Quintet), composed of musicians from France, French Guyana and the French Caribbean. She likes to mix the harp with other artistic disciplines such as cinema, theater, poetry and floral art to create shows in unusual and natural places.

Franck Bilot, a clarinetist from French Guyana, and Sissi, a French Creole drummer from Martinique, will perform with Le Fur. The New Orleans/North Shore Celtic Harp Ensemble also will perform.

Other music events are coming up at the Metairie library. All begin at 7 p.m.

• April 30: Jerusalem Shrine Big Band, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.
• May 6: Michael Scorsone Presents, East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie. Music teacher Mike Scorsone showcases promising local musicians.
• May 9: Crescent City Big Band, East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.
• May 13: American Legion Post 350 Concert Band, East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.

CIVIL WAR TALK: Cyril Lagvanec, Ph.D., will give a lecture titled “The History of Fort Sumter” at 7 p.m. April 30, at the West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan, Harvey.

Fort Sumter is notable for two battles, the first of which began the American Civil War. The First Battle of Fort Sumter began on April 12, 1861, when South Carolina Militia fired from shore on the Union garrison, marking the first shots of the war. The Second Battle of Fort Sumter — Sept. 8, 1863 — was a failed attempt by the Union to retake the fort. Although the fort was reduced to rubble, it remained in Confederate hands until it was evacuated as Gen. Sherman marched through South Carolina in February 1865.

Lagvanec is the curator of the American-Italian Research Library at the East Bank Regional Library in Metairie. 

BOATING SAFETY: The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will conduct a boating safety class beginning at 9 a.m. April 27 at the North Kenner Library, 630 W. Esplanade Ave., Kenner.

The course includes information on choosing a boat, legal and equipment requirements, navigation rules, and related subjects that include canoeing, personal watercraft and more. Students who complete the course will be issued a vessel operators certification card.

The class lasts between six and eight hours. Preregistration is recommended by going to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries website.

WORKSHOPS: Here are some ongoing, and upcoming, series at parish libraries.

Job workshop: Bryan Cascio, a senior manager of software engineering at General Electric, will lead an eight-week series titled “Conquering the Job Application Process,” in April, May and June, at the Live Oak Library, 125 Acadia Drive, Waggaman.

Prior to becoming a manager, he worked as a software engineer wearing almost every hat in the Software Development Lifecycle. Cascio holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Louisiana State University.  

• Week 1: 6 p.m. April 30 – Introduction to the program; breaking down job descriptions.
• Week 2: 6 p.m. May 7 – Quick pitches

Gwen’s genealogy: Gwen Kelley, a librarian who specializes in genealogy and local history, will complete a series of 13 seminars that began earlier this spring at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie.

The last session focuses on the genealogical proof standard. It takes place at 1:30 p.m. April 24.

Diet and nutrition class: The third class in this series happens at 7 p.m. April 24 at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie. Rosetta Danigole, licensed registered dietitian, leads the series.  

Know your iPhone: The library’s IT Department has created a series of eight mini-classes to help older patrons unlock the secrets of their iPhones.

Each hour will focus on simple tasks and shortcuts such as calling, using the camera, adding and editing contacts, and more. The classes take place at the Jane O’Brien Chatelain West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan Ave., Harvey, at the following times and dates.

• 10 to 11 a.m. April 30
• Noon to 1 p.m. April 30
• 10 to 11 a.m. May 7
• Noon to 1 p.m. May 7
• 10 to 11 a.m. May 14
• Noon to 1 p.m. May 14

Participants must register online by going to the library website, then to the events page. Patrons also can ask library employees for registration assistance.

Chris Smith is manager of adult programming at the Jefferson Parish Public Library.