This preview has been provided by Chamber Music Wilmington.
Chamber Music Wilmington, in collaboration with the Scottish Society of Wilmington, presents A Celtic Christmas Concert on December 1st in the Community Arts Center, 120 South Front Street, at 7:30 pm. North Carolina’s own Jennifer Licko stars in this sure-to-please holiday celebration.
Licko has been acquiring fans all over the world with her lilting Celtic voice. She began right here in North Carolina where many Celts settled. She is now living in Minnesota and working with some well-respected Irish musicians in the Twin Cities area, including Dáithí Sproule of Derry. His first group was the legendary Skara Brae, and he is the guitar player for the Irish band Altan. Sproule brought an Irish Gaelic Christmas song to Jennifer for her to perform at this year’s Celtic Christmas Concert. It is very rare to find Christmas songs in the Irish language, and Jennifer is thrilled to have this beautiful piece to share with her North Carolina audience this year. In addition to enjoying the musical aspect of the concert, her audience will also learn about Irish traditions that are no longer celebrated in Ireland. Jennifer wrote a song about one of these traditions called ‘Nollaig na mBan’ (Women’s Christmas) which she will also sing at the concert.
Joining Jennifer is her amazingly talented producer and arranger Bob Noble. In addition to being the keyboard player and backup singer, Noble arranged all the musical pieces in the concert. He has performed all over the world with many different artists including Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Aha, Joan Armatrading, Cliff Richard, Bob Geldof, Judie Tzuke and Tanita Tikaram.
Three-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, Dylan Foley will also be on stage for the Celtic Christmas Concert. Foley was a student of the great Rose Flanagan (the original fiddler in Cherish the Ladies). He is a vibrant stylist whose playing has been called “impeccable and spirited.” Dylan has played on Jay Unger’s Dancing On the Air show on WAMC. He has also performed with the John Whelan Band, Joanie Madden, Brian Conway, Mike McHale, Monsignor Charlie Coen and Dan Gurney. “One the finest Irish fiddlers of his generation.” – Brian Conway.
Jennifer Licko’s web site is www.jenniferlicko.com
Individual tickets for “Celtic Christmas Concert” are $25-$35, and can be ordered by mail at Kenan Box Office, 601 College Road, Wilmington NC 28403 or by phoning 910 962 3500. Tickets are also available for purchase at etix.com.
There are discounts for students and members of the military. CMW can be reached by phone at 910 343 1079, or viewed on the web at www.chambermusicwilmington.org
Chamber Music Wilmington is funded in part by a grant from the NC Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, and South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.
