Albums Celtic Woman: A Christma, Celtic Woman: Songs fro, Celtic Woman: Voices of, Celtic Woman: Destiny, Celtic Woman: Home for Similar Éabha McMahon, Máiréad Carlin, Susan McFadden, Máiréad Nesbitt, Órla Fallon | ||
Irish singer violinist harpist tara mcneill songbird
Tara McNeill (pronounced TAR-a) is an Irish violinist, harpist, and soprano singer from Antrim, Northern Ireland. She was born on 27 July.
Contents
- Irish singer violinist harpist tara mcneill songbird
- Musical career
- Celtic Woman
- Other career highlights
- Discography
- Awards
- Songs
- References
McNeill comes from a family that is musically inclined. All her siblings play musical instruments. At St. Joseph's Primary School in Antrim, McNeill showed potential as a musician. McNeill took to singing at a young age. By age 7, she was learning to play piano and by age 8, she was playing the violin.
McNeill was part of the junior and senior Ulster / North Eastern Education and Library Board (NEELB) Youth Orchestra, performing with them for 7 years and leading the senior orchestra at the age of 17.
She was selected as Head Girl in St. Louis Grammar School, Ballymena in 2008-2009.
McNeill is a classically trained violinist. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Teaching and Performance, with a focus on violin, from the Royal Irish Academy of Music. There, she studied under Michael D’Arcy. She graduated with First class honours in June 2009 with the highest marks in her year.
McNeill performs on a Roger Hansell violin.
Musical career
McNeill toured with the Irish choral ensemble Anuna as both a solo violinist and as a singer from 2010 to 2014. She also played violin on the now deleted Anúna album Illumination released in 2012.
In April 2013, McNeill performed the Irish premiere of Finzi's Violin Concerto in the National Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland.
In 2014, McNeill was a lead performer in the show Ireland Calling as a violinist, harpist, and singer. The show appeared in Copenhagen, Denmark and Dublin, Ireland in 2014.
Celtic Woman
In August 2015, McNeill played the harp as part of the orchestra in Celtic Woman: Destiny, a DVD and PBS TV special filmed in the Round Room at the Masion House, in Dublin, Ireland.
On 7 August 2016, McNeill was announced as the newest principal member of the all-female Irish musical ensemble Celtic Woman. McNeill took over for founding and long-time Celtic Woman member Mairead Nesbitt, who took leave from the group to pursue her own projects. McNeill joined Mairead Carlin as the only two principal performers of Celtic Woman to come from Northern Ireland.
On 15 August 2016, McNeill began recording in the studio for Celtic Woman. McNeill will be featured on the next Celtic Woman album, tentatively scheduled for release by November 2016. McNeill's first live concert with Celtic Woman was on 16 September 2016, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Other career highlights
McNeill has toured in many countries and has performed with well-known artists such as Barry Douglas, Bono, Il Divo, Julie Feeney, Josh Groban, and Damien Rice. She has performed at prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, the Oriental Arts Center, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts.
Prior to joining Celtic Woman, McNeill taught violin in Mount Anville Junior School, Dublin, teaching about 50 students.
McNeill began recording her debut solo album on 8 August 2016, after being announced as a member of Celtic Woman.
Discography
Awards
Songs
Amazing GraceCeltic Woman: Songs from the Heart · 2010
You Raise Me UpCeltic Woman · 2005
Joy to the WorldCeltic Woman: Home for Christmas · 2012