Tom and Chris offer a variety of quality programs in the following areas:
Concerts
Assemblies, Residencies & Workshops
Lectures, Seminars, Classes, In-Services
Concerts
Tom and Chris Kastle concerts feature eclectic, poetic and powerful songs and stories of the Great Lakes and the seas beyond. Tom and Chris dip down into lyrics and life of seafarers for shanties, ballads, and inspiration for original works that grow directly out of the tradition. Their extensive experiences as sailors give their work a depth, inaccessible to most artists and performers. It is expressed on stage, during their programs and throughout their recordings.
“I found their music to be delightful. They have a definite Celtic sound to their work. Also, Tom earned his 100 ton license from the United States Coast Guard. This means he is qualified to be the Master of ships of up to 100 tons. How many singers do you know that can do that? Maritime music is for them a living tradition.” — Great Lakes Cruiser
“Their vocals are warm and inviting and the their differences in style play nicely off each other...."The Black Dog of Lake Erie", a menacing tale of disaster on the Great Lakes...sounds like an instant maritime classic.” — Chicago Tribune
“Graced with fine instrumental work and equally strong vocals.” — SingOut!
Assemblies, Residencies & Workshops
All of our programs complement one or more of the following Illinois State Board of Education State Goals and Chicago Academic Standards:
Social Studies:
State Goal 16 — Understand events, treads, individuals and movements shaping the history of Illinois, the United States and other Nations.
State Goal 17 — Understand world geography and the effects of geography on society, with an emphasis on the United States.
State Goal 18 — Understand social systems with an emphasis on the United States.
Fine Arts:
State Goal 25 — Know the language of the arts.
State Goal 27 — Understanding the role of the arts in civilization, past and present.
Program Titles
Specific programs also fulfill additional state goals in language arts, science, PE and health, and fine arts. Click the following links to see individual program descriptions:
- A Pirate’s Life For Me — Concert/Lecture
- A Whale of a Tale — Concert/Lecture
- Big Dog, Little Dog — Workshop
- Chicago From the Water — Concert/Lecture
- Creative Writing And Performance — Residency
- Down Home In Illinois — Concert, Concert/Lecture
- Earthways, Waterways — Concert/Lecture
- Instruments and Their Stories — Residency
- Let’s Write A Shantey — Workshop
- Me for the Inland Lakes — Concert/Lecture
- Recycled Instruments — Workshop
- Rivers — Concert/Lecture
- Songs and Stories for Fun and Movement — Concert/Lecture
- Songs for A Cleaner Environment — Workshop
Click here to see student writing samples.
Lectures, Seminars, Classes, In-Services
Click below to view individual program descriptions:
- A Pirate’s Life — Concert/Lecture
- Concertina Basics — Workshop
- Building Your Maritime Community — Seminar
- Earthways, Waterways — Concert/Lecture
- How to Tell Your Own Great Lakes Story — Workshop
- Instruments from Near and Far — Concert/Lecture
- Instruments and Their Stories — In Service
- Let the Waves Roll High — Concert/Lecture
- Making Scrimshaw — Teacher In-Service, Workshop
- Me for the Inland Lakes — Concert/Lecture
- Rivers — Concert/Lecture
- Tell Your Story In Song — Teacher In- Service, Masters Class
- The Great Lakes Scows of New Zealand — Lecture
- Writing Off the Top of Your Head! — Teacher In-Service, Workshop
