The Utah Symphony Presents Fiddler Natalie MacMaster at Abravanel Hall This Weekend

Canadian fiddling sensation Natalie MacMaster returns to Abravanel Hall this weekend, February 21 and 22 for a night of rollicking Celtic, French and Cajun blended tunes inspired by her native Cape Breton heritage.

After starting her 2014 touring season with sold-out shows, Grammy winner Natalie MacMaster will join the Utah Symphony and Principal Pops Conductor Jerry Steichen for a fiery and electrifying performance. As one of the world's most celebrated fiddlers, she has collaborated with many world-renowned musical entertainers from varying genres including Paul Simon, Luciano Pavarotti, and Yo-Yo Ma.

Cape Breton fiddling is among some of the most ancient variety of Celtic music in the world, born of wind and rain, and preserved by descendants of Gaelic fishermen along Canada's rugged Eastern coastline.

Ms. MacMaster calls the performance "relaxed and casual" - it couples lively step dancing with the folkloric storytelling croon of the fiddle and the full, symphonic sound created by the orchestra. "The overall music is very unique in itself because it will be folk music paired with a very worldly sound: the symphonic playing classical technique, and all the training that goes with that," explains Ms. MacMaster. "Classical style is so old, and so is fiddle playing, so it's two old styles and one is very unique and specialized and the other very broad and lush and ancient."

RELATED EVENTS & NEWS

The USUO Education Department is proud to present a Youth Guild Violin Masterclass taught by Canadian fiddling sensation Natalie MacMaster on Saturday, February 22, 2014. The Youth Guild performers will play the St. Anne's reel with Natalie MacMaster. This free event is open to the public and will take place at the First Tier Room of Abravanel Hall (123 West South Temple, Salt Lake City) from 3 PM - 4 PM. For more information visit: http://usuoeducation.org/index.php/for-students/masterclasses

TICKET INFORMATION

Single tickets for the performance start at $18 and can be purchased by phone at (801) 355-2787, in person at the Abravanel Hall ticket office (123 W. South Temple) or online by visitingwww.utahsymphony.org. Season subscribers can purchase discounted tickets by contacting (801) 533-6683. Those desiring group discounts should call (801) 869-9046. All ticket prices are subject to change and availability, and will increase $5 when purchased on the day of the performance.

GUEST ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

About Natalie MacMaster

Award winning Cape Breton musician, Natalie MacMaster, began her fiddling career at 16 releasing her debut album "Four on the Floor". Her musical venture now spans over three decades, completing 11 albums, performing thousands of shows, and collaborating with a multitude of world renowned artists.

Natalie's family and work-life have been intertwined since marrying fellow fiddler Donnell Leahy in 2002. Her values are equally as important in her life as music. She believes incorporating family into her performances and music is the perfect way to maintain a healthy work-life balance. MacMaster and Leahy now have five beautiful children: the newest addition was born August of 2012.

After more than MacMaster's three decades of performing, her audience is still left clapping, hollering, and screaming for more as she and her band wow them with stylistic diversity without losing the traditional Cape Breton groove. The applause only increases with excitement when she incorporates step dancing into her performance. Although her stage presence is reason enough to see one of her shows, it's the elegance with the bow, the intricate technique with the fiddle, and the embrace of the Cape Breton tradition that floors her admirers at over 100 performances a year.

The dedicated work ethic Natalie has shown throughout her career has garnered her well-deserved recognition throughout the industry. In turn, this has amounted to multiple gold albums, awards from all across North America, as well as an honorary doctorate from St. Thomas University and honorary degrees from Niagara University, NY, and Trent University. She has also received the Arts & Letters Award from the Canadian Association of New York, the honor of being a member of the Order of Canada, and - most recently - an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Atlantic School of Theology.

About Jerry Steichen, Principal Pops Conductor

Maestro Gerald Steichen has established himself as one of America's most versatile conductors. He currently holds the positions of Principal Pops Conductor of the Utah Symphony and Music Director of the Ridgefield Symphony (Connecticut). He also completed sixteen seasons as Principal Pops Conductor of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. Steichen is a frequent guest conductor for the New Jersey Symphony, and has appeared with the Boston Pops, Cincinnati Symphony, Indianapolis

Symphony, as well as the symphonies of Naples, Florida; Portland, Oregon; the Florida Orchestra in Tampa; Columbus, Oklahoma City, Hartford and the New York Pops. International appearances include the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo City Symphony, the NDR Philharmonie Hannover at the Braunschweig Festival, and numerous appearances with the Norwegian Radio Symphony.

During ten seasons with the New York City Opera, Steichen led performances including "La Bohème", "L'Elisir 'Amore", Jake Heggie's "Dead Man Walking", Rachel Portman's "The Little Prince", Jonathan Miller's production of "The Mikado", "The Pirates of Penzance", and Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella". In 2007, he led the New York City Opera Orchestra and soloists in a live WQXR broadcast of Wall to Wall Opera from New York's Symphony Space. A gifted pianist, he performed on stage for the New York City Opera's acclaimed productions of "Porgy and Bess" and "Carmina Burana". He has also conducted Utah Opera, Anchorage Opera, New Jersey Opera Theater, Glimmerglass Opera in Cooperstown, NY, and Opera East Texas.

Steichen toured nationally as the associate conductor with "The Phantom of the Opera", "The Secret Garden", and "Peter Pan", and he conducted "CATS" in New York for two years. He has also appeared on Broadway, portraying Manny the Accompanist in the Tony Award-winning "Master Class". In pursuit of his passion for education, Steichen spent eighteen years with the "Meet the Artist" series at Lincoln Center as conductor, clinician and pianist. Originally from Tonkawa, Oklahoma, Maestro Steichen holds degrees from Northern Oklahoma College, Oklahoma City University and the University of Southern California. He currently resides in New York City.

About the Utah Symphony

Founded in 1940, the Utah Symphony is dedicated to providing Utah residents and visitors with great performances which engage, educate and enrich lives. Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, the orchestra's parent organization, reaches 450,000 residents in Utah and the Intermountain region, with educational outreach programs serving more than 155,000 students annually. The orchestra presents more than 70 performances each season in Abravanel Hall, participates in the Utah Opera's four annual productions at the Capitol Theatre, in addition to numerous community concerts throughout Utah and the annual outdoor summer series - the Deer Valley® Music Festival -in Park City, Utah. With its many subscription, education, and outreach concerts and tours the Utah Symphony is one of the most engaged full-time orchestras in the nation. For more information visit www.utahsymphony.org.

Season Sponsor for Utah Symphony| Utah Opera is the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation.

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