Celtic Woman is a slam-dunk success - Salt Lake Tribune
Monday, April 28, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Celtic Thunder at a Glance / Complete Bios and Background Information
There seems to be a sharpe rise in the demand for background information on "Celtic Thunder", it's members, it's history, and the relationship, if any, to "Celtic Woman".
Here is what I was able to dig up, basically using Google, Yahoo Search, and MSN Live Search.
Paul Byrom – Born 1979 and raised in Dublin, Ireland, the tenor has been singing professionally since his teens, recording as a boy soprano at the age of 14. Byrom released his first solo album "Velvet," a collection of songs from the American Matinee era in 2005, and has performed all over the world.
He studied under Dr Veronica Dunne, Ireland’s leading lady of Opera and renowned vocal teacher. A professional singer by his early teens, Paul recorded his first album as a boy soprano when he was fourteen.
From this illustrious debut, Paul Byrom’s star has continued to rise. He released his album VELVET in Ireland in 2005 to great critical acclaim and sales of this album placed him firmly at number #2 in the music charts. VELVET also made Paul Byrom a household name in his native country. Since then Paul has gone on to sell out concerts at the prestigious National Concert Hall in Dublin in 2006 and again in 2007.
Being also an avid sports fan, Paul has taken great pleasure in performing at major sporting events in Ireland and abroad. His appearances at such events include singing at the All Ireland Finals in Croke Park in Dublin, the Six Nations Rugby tournament in Lansdowne Road, Dublin and at Heinz Field for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the USA.
Paul’s talent has taken him far, and the highlights of his career to date include performing for many dignitaries such as Irish President Mary McAleese and Emperor Akihito of Japan. His vocal style and range have brought him to the attention of illustrious fellow Irish musicians, composers and singers such as Bono, Phil Coulter and Shay Healy.
Indeed, Phil Coulter contacted Paul when the auditions for CELTIC THUNDER were announced. Paul auditioned for the show’s producer Sharon Browne, the original producer of Celtic Woman, and for the show’s musical director Phil Coulter. He was cast as one the five solo leads in the show and is the sole tenor in the international production. The show, Celtic Thunder was filmed in the Helix in Dublin in August 2007 to phenomenal audience reaction. The DVD and CD of the show will go on release in the US on February 2008, and a 50 city tour is set for fall of 2008. The Show, CELTIC THUNDER will also be aired on local Public Broadcasting Stations across the USA in March 2008.
2008 is shaping up to be another momentous year for Paul, with the next step in his music career firmly underway. “I am thrilled to be part of the Celtic Thunder project and to work with Sharon and Phil” says Byrom. “We had so much fun making the show, and it is very exciting to think about bringing it to US audiences.”
George Donaldson – A well-established singer in the vibrant Glasgow and West of Scotland folk scene, the Scotsman has performed in folk sessions for BBC Scotland, Glasgow’s own Celtic Connections, the Glasgow West End Festival and at the famed Glasgow Barrowlands. A self-taught musician, Donaldson plays guitar, flute, mandolin, bodhrán and banjo, and has played alongside folk artists including Jim McCann and the Dubliners, across Europe, America and Canada.
As a self taught, accomplished musician, George plays the Guitar, Flute, Mandolin, bodhran, and Banjo, and has recently become the proud owner of a Violin…. in a bid to help his six year old daughter as she learns to play. Georges’ love of traditional Celtic music stems from his childhood in Glasgow, his main influence being his late father Bernard who had a love and appreciation of all kinds of live music played from the heart. Nothing more pleased his father than George becoming a successful musician and Playing at his beloved Celtic Park in front of 65,000 fans at the opening match of the 2000/01 Season.
One of his main attributes is his charm and personality. He loves meeting new people and has many friends from all over the world. He is first to admit his first love is his Family, and knows how lucky he is to have Carolyn, his lovely wife and Sarah, his beautiful daughter, who are his inspiration…. this along with his mother Helen and eight brothers and sisters who all share in his love of the Folk scene keeps George focused and never short of an audience.
To date, George has toured in America, Canada and Europe, and has developed a fondness for Germany, where he has a great following. His love of the country, its people and its culture has encouraged him, as an eternal student, to attempt to master the language….!
George loves being a part of and a performer in CELTIC THUNDER, it is a new direction for him and the most exciting of his career to date.
George can be found at his favourite gig in Jinty McGintys in the west end of Glasgow, where he is renowned for his ballad singing. He has been resident singer at Jintys for the last 15 years and has established a fond following of support, people are known to come here from all areas of the world to hear him sing.….!
Keith Harkin – The singer/songwriter/guitarist from Derry, Northern Ireland has been singing since he was 4 years old. Harkin played the lead in BBC’s "Dhá Theanga" (2006) and also composed and recorded songs for the show, and has supported John Martyn and David Kitt in concert. Harkin is has his own album in the works and plays frequently in London.
Keith is a talented Songwriter and excellent Guitar player as well as an amazing singer.
He played at the Tavistock Festival in the UK in September ’05 and then played the Lead in BBC’s “Dha Theanga” in 2006 and also composed and recorded songs for the show.
Keith was the support act in Concerts for both John Martyn and David Kitt in 2007.
His only ambition is to be a full time singer/songwriter and musician, an ambition he is dedicated to, having worked for the past year and a half just to make trips over and back to Metropolis Studios in London to begin recording tracks for his own album.
He has done many of his own gigs and has been interviewed many times on Radio Foyle in Derry about his adventures in London recording songs and gigging.
Keith only heard about the auditions for Celtic Thunder late on the day of the Auditons in Derry as he was just back from another trip to London. He called into the Auditions on spec just as they were finishing, he auditioned and was very happy to be asked there and then to attend the final Auditions in Dublin.
Which brings Keith up to now….. A Soloist in this new CELTIC THUNDER Show, hopefully the start of a long and successful career in Music.
Ryan Kelly – Hailing from the Moy village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, Kelly began singing at the age of seven in choirs. Actively involved in amateur dramatics, he played the lead in a production of "Blood Brothers" and Judas Iscariot in "Jesus Christ Superstar." Kelly performed alongside Simply Red in the BBC televised "Children in Need" charity concert at the Odyssey in Belfast, and finished second in the BBC television "Country Cool" competition in 2003.
Auditioning for CELTIC THUNDER seemed an ideal way to take Ryan’s passion for Traditional Irish Music to a professional level and now having been successfully chosen as one of the 5 vocal soloists Ryan is delighted to be on the path to a career as a professional singer.
Damian McGinty – The youngest member of the group at age 14, McGinty lives and attends grammar school in Derry, Northern Ireland. Winning his first singing competition at the age of six, McGinty recently recorded a gospel CD, and performs in the City of Derry Choir, his local church choir, and the drama society. He has recorded a 14-track charity CD and performed at concerts for the Red Cross.
He loves playing football and supports Manchester United along with his local city team.
In 2006 Damian won a competition where the prize was to record 2 tracks on C.D. This was his true beginning.
After singing in the Millennium Forum at a concert for Derry City football team, Damian recorded a CD of 14 tracks, profits going to the local Foyle Hospice, he has raised a £1,000.
His participation in this project had greatly increased Damian’s profile and songs from his CD have been aired on radio. He also performs at concerts for the Red Cross.
Damian sent a copy of his CD to Phil Coulter, who passed it to Sharon Browne. From this Damian was invited to Audition as a singer for Celtic Thunder. It is a dream come true for him to have been successful. Damian’s excitement and enthusiasm for Celtic Thunder is infectious!
Additional Performers: Phil Coulter (conductor); Zara Curtis (dancer); Megan Sherwood (cello); Brendan Monaghan (whistles, pipes, guitar, bodhrán); Dave Cooke (keyboards); Neil Byrne (guitar, backing vocals); Nigel Wheatley (bass, backing vocals); Rory McCarron (drums); Audrey Bridgeman (percussion); The Celtic Concert Orchestra led by Niccola Sweeney; Bagpipes/Drums: Andrew Carlisle, Shane Culleton, Chris Mc Nicholl, David Stone, Mark Wilson; Monks: Alex Browne, Ian McKinley, Greg Howie, Killian Buckley, Andy Lawler.
Producer: Sharon Browne. Composer/Musical Director: Phil Coulter. Director: Julia Knowles. Musical Arrangement: Phil Coulter, Dave Gold and Michael Keeney. Presented nationally by WLIW New York. ST and CC.
Here is what I was able to dig up, basically using Google, Yahoo Search, and MSN Live Search.
Paul Byrom – Born 1979 and raised in Dublin, Ireland, the tenor has been singing professionally since his teens, recording as a boy soprano at the age of 14. Byrom released his first solo album "Velvet," a collection of songs from the American Matinee era in 2005, and has performed all over the world.
He studied under Dr Veronica Dunne, Ireland’s leading lady of Opera and renowned vocal teacher. A professional singer by his early teens, Paul recorded his first album as a boy soprano when he was fourteen.
From this illustrious debut, Paul Byrom’s star has continued to rise. He released his album VELVET in Ireland in 2005 to great critical acclaim and sales of this album placed him firmly at number #2 in the music charts. VELVET also made Paul Byrom a household name in his native country. Since then Paul has gone on to sell out concerts at the prestigious National Concert Hall in Dublin in 2006 and again in 2007.
Being also an avid sports fan, Paul has taken great pleasure in performing at major sporting events in Ireland and abroad. His appearances at such events include singing at the All Ireland Finals in Croke Park in Dublin, the Six Nations Rugby tournament in Lansdowne Road, Dublin and at Heinz Field for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the USA.
Paul’s talent has taken him far, and the highlights of his career to date include performing for many dignitaries such as Irish President Mary McAleese and Emperor Akihito of Japan. His vocal style and range have brought him to the attention of illustrious fellow Irish musicians, composers and singers such as Bono, Phil Coulter and Shay Healy.
Indeed, Phil Coulter contacted Paul when the auditions for CELTIC THUNDER were announced. Paul auditioned for the show’s producer Sharon Browne, the original producer of Celtic Woman, and for the show’s musical director Phil Coulter. He was cast as one the five solo leads in the show and is the sole tenor in the international production. The show, Celtic Thunder was filmed in the Helix in Dublin in August 2007 to phenomenal audience reaction. The DVD and CD of the show will go on release in the US on February 2008, and a 50 city tour is set for fall of 2008. The Show, CELTIC THUNDER will also be aired on local Public Broadcasting Stations across the USA in March 2008.
2008 is shaping up to be another momentous year for Paul, with the next step in his music career firmly underway. “I am thrilled to be part of the Celtic Thunder project and to work with Sharon and Phil” says Byrom. “We had so much fun making the show, and it is very exciting to think about bringing it to US audiences.”
George Donaldson – A well-established singer in the vibrant Glasgow and West of Scotland folk scene, the Scotsman has performed in folk sessions for BBC Scotland, Glasgow’s own Celtic Connections, the Glasgow West End Festival and at the famed Glasgow Barrowlands. A self-taught musician, Donaldson plays guitar, flute, mandolin, bodhrán and banjo, and has played alongside folk artists including Jim McCann and the Dubliners, across Europe, America and Canada.
As a self taught, accomplished musician, George plays the Guitar, Flute, Mandolin, bodhran, and Banjo, and has recently become the proud owner of a Violin…. in a bid to help his six year old daughter as she learns to play. Georges’ love of traditional Celtic music stems from his childhood in Glasgow, his main influence being his late father Bernard who had a love and appreciation of all kinds of live music played from the heart. Nothing more pleased his father than George becoming a successful musician and Playing at his beloved Celtic Park in front of 65,000 fans at the opening match of the 2000/01 Season.
One of his main attributes is his charm and personality. He loves meeting new people and has many friends from all over the world. He is first to admit his first love is his Family, and knows how lucky he is to have Carolyn, his lovely wife and Sarah, his beautiful daughter, who are his inspiration…. this along with his mother Helen and eight brothers and sisters who all share in his love of the Folk scene keeps George focused and never short of an audience.
To date, George has toured in America, Canada and Europe, and has developed a fondness for Germany, where he has a great following. His love of the country, its people and its culture has encouraged him, as an eternal student, to attempt to master the language….!
George loves being a part of and a performer in CELTIC THUNDER, it is a new direction for him and the most exciting of his career to date.
George can be found at his favourite gig in Jinty McGintys in the west end of Glasgow, where he is renowned for his ballad singing. He has been resident singer at Jintys for the last 15 years and has established a fond following of support, people are known to come here from all areas of the world to hear him sing.….!
Keith Harkin – The singer/songwriter/guitarist from Derry, Northern Ireland has been singing since he was 4 years old. Harkin played the lead in BBC’s "Dhá Theanga" (2006) and also composed and recorded songs for the show, and has supported John Martyn and David Kitt in concert. Harkin is has his own album in the works and plays frequently in London.
Keith is a talented Songwriter and excellent Guitar player as well as an amazing singer.
He played at the Tavistock Festival in the UK in September ’05 and then played the Lead in BBC’s “Dha Theanga” in 2006 and also composed and recorded songs for the show.
Keith was the support act in Concerts for both John Martyn and David Kitt in 2007.
His only ambition is to be a full time singer/songwriter and musician, an ambition he is dedicated to, having worked for the past year and a half just to make trips over and back to Metropolis Studios in London to begin recording tracks for his own album.
He has done many of his own gigs and has been interviewed many times on Radio Foyle in Derry about his adventures in London recording songs and gigging.
Keith only heard about the auditions for Celtic Thunder late on the day of the Auditons in Derry as he was just back from another trip to London. He called into the Auditions on spec just as they were finishing, he auditioned and was very happy to be asked there and then to attend the final Auditions in Dublin.
Which brings Keith up to now….. A Soloist in this new CELTIC THUNDER Show, hopefully the start of a long and successful career in Music.
Ryan Kelly – Hailing from the Moy village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, Kelly began singing at the age of seven in choirs. Actively involved in amateur dramatics, he played the lead in a production of "Blood Brothers" and Judas Iscariot in "Jesus Christ Superstar." Kelly performed alongside Simply Red in the BBC televised "Children in Need" charity concert at the Odyssey in Belfast, and finished second in the BBC television "Country Cool" competition in 2003.
Auditioning for CELTIC THUNDER seemed an ideal way to take Ryan’s passion for Traditional Irish Music to a professional level and now having been successfully chosen as one of the 5 vocal soloists Ryan is delighted to be on the path to a career as a professional singer.
Damian McGinty – The youngest member of the group at age 14, McGinty lives and attends grammar school in Derry, Northern Ireland. Winning his first singing competition at the age of six, McGinty recently recorded a gospel CD, and performs in the City of Derry Choir, his local church choir, and the drama society. He has recorded a 14-track charity CD and performed at concerts for the Red Cross.
He loves playing football and supports Manchester United along with his local city team.
In 2006 Damian won a competition where the prize was to record 2 tracks on C.D. This was his true beginning.
After singing in the Millennium Forum at a concert for Derry City football team, Damian recorded a CD of 14 tracks, profits going to the local Foyle Hospice, he has raised a £1,000.
His participation in this project had greatly increased Damian’s profile and songs from his CD have been aired on radio. He also performs at concerts for the Red Cross.
Damian sent a copy of his CD to Phil Coulter, who passed it to Sharon Browne. From this Damian was invited to Audition as a singer for Celtic Thunder. It is a dream come true for him to have been successful. Damian’s excitement and enthusiasm for Celtic Thunder is infectious!
Additional Performers: Phil Coulter (conductor); Zara Curtis (dancer); Megan Sherwood (cello); Brendan Monaghan (whistles, pipes, guitar, bodhrán); Dave Cooke (keyboards); Neil Byrne (guitar, backing vocals); Nigel Wheatley (bass, backing vocals); Rory McCarron (drums); Audrey Bridgeman (percussion); The Celtic Concert Orchestra led by Niccola Sweeney; Bagpipes/Drums: Andrew Carlisle, Shane Culleton, Chris Mc Nicholl, David Stone, Mark Wilson; Monks: Alex Browne, Ian McKinley, Greg Howie, Killian Buckley, Andy Lawler.
Producer: Sharon Browne. Composer/Musical Director: Phil Coulter. Director: Julia Knowles. Musical Arrangement: Phil Coulter, Dave Gold and Michael Keeney. Presented nationally by WLIW New York. ST and CC.
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