Natalie Macmaster & Donnell Leahy to Perform at Harris Center, 5/4-5

Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy have created a new show to bring their fans the next chapter in their musical and personal journey. For the first time on stage, they'll feature their children alongside dancers and singers from the traditions of their hometowns of Cape Breton and Lakefield, Ontario. The evening will highlight the unique talents, influences, and stories of the first family of traditional fiddlers through dancing, singing, and remarkably dynamic music-making.

Since marrying in 2002, two of Canada's brightest stars have been captivating audiences all over North America with exceptional musical skill. Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy have received both industry-acclaim and a loyal fan following by combining their incredible individual talents, giving audiences a remarkable musical experience each and every night. Now, with their "Visions From Cape Breton & Beyond," audiences will have an insight into the remarkable places, people, and culture that have shaped their lives, music, and family.

Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy Visions From Cape Breton and Beyond will be presented Monday, May 4, 2015 at 7:30 pm and Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are priced at $25-$39; Premium $49; Students with ID and Children 12 & Under $20. Tickets are available online at www.harriscenter.net or from the Harris Center Ticket Office at 916-608-6888 from 10 am to 6 pm Monday through Saturday, and two hours before show time. Parking is included in the price of the ticket. Harris Center is located on the west side of Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom, CA, facing East Bidwell Street.

Both born into musical families, Natalie and Donnell entered into their musical careers naturally. Hailing from Cape Breton Island, Natalie received her first fiddle at the age of nine, launching a career that has lasted for over 30 years. Her first recording was released when she was only 16, and she has never looked back. With amazing dedication to her craft, Natalie has received numerous awards in the US and Canada, recognizing both her musical talent and importance to Cape Breton's fiddling tradition and international profile. Natalie's performances leave her audiences hollering for more as she wows them with stylistic diversity without losing the traditional Cape Breton groove. 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 countless shows every year.

Natalie MacMaster has a dedicated work ethic that has shown throughout her career and 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 - receiving an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Atlantic school of Theology.

MacMaster's sought-after talents are in demand by her musical peers from a range of genres. She has collaborated with countless artists, including a recording with Yo-Yo Ma, which won a Grammy. In turn, Natalie has enlisted the expertise of many world renowned artists to contribute to her own projects throughout the years.

Donnell Leahy started honing his remarkable talent at the age of three and has literally spent his entire life with a fiddle in his hand. His initial skills were learned at home from his parents - a fiddle-playing father from Ontario and a step-dancing mother from Cape Breton. With a well-trained ear it is no surprise that, as the musical leader & front-man of the musical group Leahy for over 15 years, his own style emerged; some even say he even created a new genre of music known simply as "Leahy." Combined with his mesmerizingly strident, exultant, and high-energy performances, this style has become Donnell Leahy's musical signature.

Now, after over 10 years of marriage and with six children, Donnell and Natalie have turned their sights to sharing their newest musical collaboration, Visions from Cape Breton and Beyond. Many have heard of the island of Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Canada and many know of its legendary musical heritage, but few know it first-hand like those who have been raised in its warm embrace. The multi-media Visions tour, with its never-before-seen video footage of both Natalie and Donnell, alongside endearing stories of the character and characters of the island, will help audiences understand the land, lives, and loves that have shaped these two musical families into one.

Expanding on their Cape Breton musical heritage, Natalie and Donnell are excited to introduce audiences to their children who are growing by musical leaps and bounds. Donnell & Natalie strive to bring up their children with the same home, faith, and musical heritage each of them received. Fiddling, step-dancing, and piano lessons find their place alongside hockey sticks, school books, and family events. The children have embraced their centuries-old musical inheritance and look forward to sharing the joy they receive from it. Natalie and Donnell have created a musical progeny that is in all ways unique and enticing and ensures that a strong Cape Breton and Canadian fiddling tradition will exist for years to come.

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