Celtic Woman the Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts April 7

WORCESTER — Even as she academically excelled in classical violin performance in Ireland and toured the world with Irish gaelic chamber and full orchestras, Tara McNeill had a special thought in mind.

She wanted to exist a Celtic Woman.

As in the all-female, all-Irish super musical ensemble Celtic Woman, which returns to The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts at 3 p.m. Apr seven with its new alive prove "Ancient Land."

McNeill did come on board in 2016 (she was with Celtic Adult female when it came to the Hanover Theatre in 2017) as a violinist, singer and harpist.

"Thankfully, nearly three years later, I'one thousand however  hither," she said during a recent telephone interview from Rochester, Due north.Y., where the grouping would exist performing that night.

The electric current Celtic Woman lineup also features singers Mairéad Carlin, Éabha McMahon, and Megan Walsh. They are accompanied by a full band, Irish dancers, bagpipers, and special furnishings.

Despite the title of the show (which is likewise the title of the group's latest album and contempo PBS special,) "Ancient Land" has several original compositions including "Follow Me," "Be Yet" and the instrumental "Love & Laurels," which readily demonstrates McNeill's cord playing talents. There are besides new arrangements of traditional Irish gaelic songs and re-imagined workings of contemporary songs such equally "Long Journey Home," "Going Home" and "Homeland."

The 2019 United states tour has over 70 dates, and began Feb. 28 with performances stretching through close to June.

"It's actually brilliant. We love the music we're performing. Nosotros're having a ball," McNeill said of the tour. "I love this anthology ('Ancient State'). People wanted more new music and so we gave it to them and new arrangements of songs. It's a great album."

The touring contingent including musicians, dancers and technical coiffure totals about 30 people on three buses. "We only really support each other so much," McNeill said.

Celtic Adult female was originally put together in 2004 past the producer Sharon Browne and David Downes, a quondam musical director of the Irish stage testify "Riverdance." A Television receiver special "Celtic Woman" and an album of the same proper noun that included "Orinoco Flow" by Irish New Age empress Enya and the traditional "Danny Boy" may have been initially intended equally a i-off venture, but became a crowd-pleasing miracle, touring world-wide. At that place take been 13 studio albums, more than than half a dozen DVDs, and several PBS specials

Equally McNeill was studying violin, she watched the group rise.

Originally from Antrim, Northern Ireland, McNeill graduated with showtime class honors with a BA in music performance (violin) from the Regal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin. She toured Communist china, Argentina, Republic of chile and Mexico with Camerata Ireland, and other affiliations have included Raidió Teilifís Éireann Concert Orchestra. McNeill has won several awards such equally the Leo Gibney Honour for Chamber Music.

"I had always watched the group," McNeill said of Celtic Woman. "I had admired the group for years. I ever wanted to be involved … Really, Celtic Woman is a platform for women musicians and singers. There's cipher like it to come out of Republic of ireland. It'due south the nigh successful all-female person grouping to come out of the country."

In 2015 McNeill got introduced to Celtic Adult female when she played the harp every bit office of the orchestra for the DVD and PBS special "Celtic Adult female: Destiny." The following year information technology was announced that Celtic Woman violinist and original member Máiréad Nesbitt was leaving the group to pursue solo projects.

When the opportunity for McNeill to join them presented itself, "I jumped," she said.

Replacing a mainstay such as Nesbitt could accept been daunting. "She was such a vital presence in the group, only Celtic Woman permit me come in and just be myself," McNeill said. "The Celtic Woman family welcomed me with open artillery, and the fans, they've accepted me and I'one thousand very grateful for all their support."

For the "Ancient Land" bout, McNeill plays harp ("the symbol of Ireland," she said) and has several violin solos, including "Love & Honour." One medley is danced to past three dancers. "We come together in an enchanted way. It'southward a real crowd-pleaser. It's amazing."

Asked if she misses playing the classical music she studied and was trained for, McNeill said that much of the music Celtic Woman performs has a classical chemical element. " 'Love & Honour' is primarily classical. I don't feel like I'yard missing information technology in the show because it'southward there. I'll always take a smashing love for classical music."

As for Celtic music, "I actually feel strongly that our music is universal. Our Irish melodies are so powerful. Nosotros've been to Australia, Mainland china, Japan. It really lifts people upwards  anywhere we become," she said.

So Celtic Adult female McNeill is playing for keeps.

"Every performance is different for me, the venues are different, I can't expect to get upward on stage, and I don't desire to be anywhere else. I just know right at present I'm enjoying  myself for the foreseeable hereafter."

Contact Richard Duckett at richard.duckett@telegram.com

Follow him on Twitter@TGRDuckett

What: Celtic Woman: Aboriginal Land

When: 3 p.m. April vii

Where: The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester

How much: $45-$156. (877) 571-7469; www.thehanovertheatre.org

What: Celtic Woman: Ancient Land

When: 3 p.m. April seven

Where: The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester

How much: $45-$156. (877) 571-7469; www.thehanovertheatre.org

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Source: https://www.telegram.com/entertainmentlife/20190330/celtic-woman-and-power-of-music

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