NEWS FROM OPELOUSASFor Immediate Release
November 21, 2008
La Table Française to Focus on Variations of Cajun French
(Opelousas, LA) – The Wednesday, November 26, La Table Française in Opelousas will feature special guest, Larry Miller, who will talk about variations of Cajun French spoken in five areas of Nova Scotia.
An accomplished accordion maker, Larry Miller grew up in Iota in the heart of the Prairie Cajun region. After spending 22 years in the Acadia Parish School system as a teacher and principal, Miller retired and now works full time for the preservation of Cajun Culture. He is a charter member of the Cajun French Music Association.
Before Miller retired from the school system he began to build accordions as a hobby just because the thought of his people producing these machines by hand was intriguing. Later he learned to build triangles because his father built them. He soon added the Cajun style spoons in a handle and the vest type scrub board (frottoir) to his line of produced instruments.
La Table Françaiseis an informal way to share conversation with other French speakers. Speakers of all levels are welcome. The November 26 French Table in Opelousas happens from 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. at KaJeune's Diner, located just off Judson Walsh exit from I-49, on 2979 S. Union Street.
Regular attendees of the morning French table event include International Cajun fiddle player Hadley Castille, Creole/Zydeco musician Goldman Thibodeaux and his wife Theresa, Zydeco Joe Citizen, and Sylvia Morel with the St. Landry – Imperial Genealogical Society.