![]() And here I am now doing almost exactly the same thing. “But I was so in awe of Donnell’s family, of 11 siblings who could play and had a family band. “The fiddle was definitely common ground for us when we first got together,” MacMaster, a Member of Order of Canada since 2006, recalls with a chuckle. Their synergy was brilliantly showcased on the pair’s first recorded collaboration, 2015’s Bob Ezrin-produced album One, a crowning achievement complementing combined album sales of over one million, a CV listing cellist Yo-Yo Ma, bluegrass star Alison Krauss, and banjo ace Béla Fleck as past collaborators (and Shania Twain and The Chieftains as fans) plus a devoted audience stretching from Sydney, Nova Scotia to Sydney, Australia. ![]() Though MacMaster and Leahy followed different trajectories to this point - she a Cape Breton native who could step-dance before she could walk, he the oldest brother of acclaimed family group Leahy - both have confidently crested the traditional music peak. “It has carried me through my childhood, through my teens, my young adult life, my married life and now motherhood. “I’m continually amazed by what the fiddle has brought to my life,” MacMaster offers. They certainly couldn’t have imagined capping off what they jokingly refer to as their combined 83 years as performers with milestones including another hotly anticipated Christmas tour, an accompanying TV special, a pending third installment of their Greenbridge Celtic Folk Fest, a recent Road Gold Award from the Canadian Independent Music Association, and last but certainly not least, the arrival of Maria, newest sib to Mary Frances, Michael, Clare, Julia, Alec and Sadie. Or that they would produce a large family and ensure their mantelpiece was jammed with JUNO and East Coast Music Awards while creating an inventory of achievements spanning the globe. Indeed, when MacMaster and Leahy married in 2002 - both were already stars in their own right - they could not have predicted their merger would recast what contemporary musical success looks like. Hearing Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy speak reverentially about the fiddle, which has propelled their dazzling careers since childhood while cementing their status as Canada’s reigning couple of Celtic music, is almost as electrifying as hearing them play it. Featuring a lineup of holiday favorites intermingled with classic Celtic melodies, A Celtic Family Christmas offers a glimpse into a traditional MacMaster-Leahy celebration, complete with the young fiddlers, drummers, pipers and dancers that make up this extraordinary family. The holidays truly become a family affair when married duo Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy - two of the globe’s brightest fiddle players - take the stage with their seven children for an unforgettable night of Christmas music, dance and storytelling. If you are a ticket holder and have not received an email, please email or call the Box Office at 85 before November 4, 2022. Ticket holders will be contacted by email with options of transferring their tickets to the December 9 Crystal Gayle Holiday Show, exchanging their tickets to another performance during the 2022/2023 Season, donating the value of their tickets in support of the Norton Center, or receiving a full refund. ![]() We apologize for any inconvenience this unexpected cancellation may cause. We recommend the use of masks rated N95 or higher.Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy have canceled their upcoming tour performances in the United States, including their Norton Center show on December 9, due to personal reasons. Masks are not required, but we strongly encourage patrons to continue to wear masks during events, now optional, for the benefit of all in our community. There are no required safety protocols, but this is subject to change in accordance with BC public health and/or municipal guidelines. Life is never dull, especially at Christmas! This show will feature some traditional and original music with the family but also special numbers with their own incredible band, as well as a few personal stories and candid moments from the MacMaster/Leahy setting. ![]() Welcome to A Celtic Family Christmas with Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy - award-winning fiddle virtuosos - and their seven children in an intimate and unique Christmas concert you will never forget! Join the family and stellar band as they warmly invite you in to share their music, their unique way of life and Cape Breton Christmas traditions still honoured and celebrated.
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