Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Fiddler Natalie MacMaster at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts

Are you looking for a way to celebrate your Irish heritage – or at least pretend you’re Irish for a day – this St. Patrick’s Day? Then check out Natalie MacMaster’s performance at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts in Fairfax on Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 7 p.m. The Cape Breton native, one of the most illustrious musicians on both the folk and Celtic music scenes, shows off her musical expertise in this energetic musical celebration of Celtic culture and St. Patrick’s Day.

MacMaster was born into a family of celebrated musicians in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, a place famous for its unique style of fiddling. Even though her music continues to be rooted in the traditional Cape Breton style, she has forged her own sound by combining Celtic, bluegrass and folk with jazz, rock and even classical music.

Since releasing her first album at the age of 16, MacMaster has recorded a total of 11 albums, including her most recent, “Cape Breton Girl.” Her talent has garnered her numerous awards and nominations, including a Juno Award, eight Canadian Country Music Awards, 10 East Coast Music Awards, two Grammy nominations with one win (for her contribution to Yo-Yo Ma’s “Songs Of Joy & Peace”) and the Order of Canada (the country’s highest civilian honor). MacMaster has had numerous collaborations with other musicians from diverse musical genres as Yo-Yo Ma, Alison Krauss, The Chieftains and Carlos Santana. After two decades in the industry, MacMaster continues to travel the globe entertaining audiences with her electrifying step-dancing, expert fiddling and signature sound in venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York City and Massey Hall in Toronto.

MacMaster is married to fellow fiddler Donnell Leahy – of the Leahy family, who has performed at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts on several occasions, including this past December – and the couple has five young children. 

A pre-performance discussion, free to ticket holders, begins 45 minutes prior to the performance in the Hylton Center’s Buchanan Partners Art Gallery.

Tickets are $24, $40 and $48. This performance is Family Friendly: youth through grade 12 can obtain half price tickets when accompanied by an adult. Tickets to this performance can be purchased at the box office at George Mason University's Center for the Arts (open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) or by calling 888-945-2468 or visiting cfa.gmu.edu. George Mason University's Center for the Arts is located on Mason's Fairfax Campus, at the intersection of Braddock Rd. and Rt. 123. Free parking is available in Lot K and paid parking is available in the Mason Pond Parking Deck adjacent to the Concert Hall.

For more information about these performances or other events at George Mason University's Center for the Arts, please visit cfa.gmu.edu. Like the Center for the Arts on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gmucfa and follow the Center for the Arts on Twitter at @GMU_CFA.

This article was written by Amanda Rodriguez, with assistance from Jill Graziano Laiacona.