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Westminster Celebrity Series Welcomes Celtic Sensation "Leahy"

Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2003

Leahy, performers of Celtic music and step-dance, will appear at the Westminster College Celebrity Series Monday, Oct. 13, at 8 p.m. in Orr Auditorium.

Leahy played with Shania Twain on 175 tour stops, and were featured in Twain's network television specials. Leahy won Juno Awards in Canada as Best Instrumental Group and Best New Group in 1997, and Best Country Group in 1998.

"This group of nine extraordinarly talented brother and sisters played to standing ovations when they appeared as an opening act for Shania Twain," said Gene DeCaprio, directed of the Celebrity Series at Westminster College. "They've got such great energy. No one should miss this family show."

This group of siblings grew up on a farm in Canada with a father who is a fiddling master, and a mother who is a step-dance champion. After starting out playing at fairs and weddings, they now have a video, "Call to Dance," which has made it to the number one on the Country Music Television Network. Leahy's self-titled album entered the Top 50 retail chart last year in Canada, and quickly rose to the number one on the country album chart published by a top Canadian trade magazine.

"Even though the band's music landed on the country charts, you won't hear any honky-tonk or achy-breaky heart songs&.you'll hear razor-sharp fiddling, piano, mandolins, banjos, and step dancing, which is sometimes used as percussion," writes Lisa Leigh Parney of the The Christian Science Monitor.

"We play traditional Celtic music from so many vantage points," said Maria Leahy. "You might hear a traditional Celtic melody played with a rock beat or with a jazz or blues feel. Our influences range from Def Leppard to James Taylor."

A limited number of tickets are available. For ticket information, contact Connie McGinnis, assistant director of the Celebrity Series, at (724) 946-7354 or e-mail mcginncl@westminster.edu.