10 talking about this. “Both remain career priorities.”. The eight band members, all from the Leahy family, are from Lakefield, Ontario and have been actively touring Canada and internationally since the early 1980s when they were known as The Leahy Family. He became intimately familiar with the music of New Brunswick fiddling sensation Don Messer; All Ireland fiddle champion Sean McGuire, Cape Breton master Jerry Holland, Ontario’s Graham Townsend, and Quebec’s Ti-Jean Carignan, listening to their records and learning each song note for note by ear. DL: How all-consuming and awesome it is. MacMaster hails from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and received her first fiddle when she was 9 years old. "I'm Catholic in every way," said Ms. MacMaster, who is engaged to Donnell Leahy, the front man of the step-dancing and fiddle-playing family group Leahy… Natalie MacMaster, Donnell Leahy & Family perform "Family Number Medley." Since marrying in 2002, MacMaster and Leahy have performed for audiences all over North America. “Our parents had plenty of house parties and ceilidhs. And he said, "Well, I'm in Truro," which is where I was, and he asked me out for supper. “I said, ‘I don’t know what you look like. Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy bios, videos, songs, and more from the Rhythm & Roots Festival, Labor Day weekend, Charlestown Rhode Island. When I heard that style being played by a young girl, she tweaked my interest, and I decided I had to meet her. Donnell brings "traditional music" to new heights! WORCESTER — It is about 1,174 miles from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, to Lakefield, Ontario. To get the best possible experience using our website we recommend downloading one of the browsers below. Donnell Leahy is an actor, known for 100 Huntley Street (2019), Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show (1984) and Justin Hines: Days to Recall (2011). “It expresses my personality, my spirit.”. DONNELL LEAHY. Find the best information and most relevant links on all topics related toThis domain may be for sale! There are fiddlers and then there is Donnell Leahy, whose lifelong devotion to playing and performing as a solo artist, with his 10 siblings in the much-fêted group Leahy (of which he was frontman and business lead) and, more recently, alongside wife and musical collaborator Natalie MacMaster has cemented his reputation as a peerless instrumentalist able … Every time he came round with the tractor, he’d be able to watch me. Spending time touring with both families is crucial to Donnell. MacMaster has toured with the Chieftains, Faith Hill, Carlos Santana and Alison Krauss, and has recorded with Yo-Yo Ma. He’s absolutely precise and articulate – a must-see t0 believe.”, “Donnell Leahy is quite likely the greatest fiddle player in the world right now.”. Polpette Di Sophia Loren (Meatballs in Cream Sauce), 6 tips for surviving your maternity leave, Lisa Van De Geyn, Deputy Editor of ParentsCanada, 5 Reasons to Potty-Train in the Summer Months, What to do when self-soothing behaviours become a problem. “I’m not the greatest with words, but on the fiddle, I can tell the whole story passionately,” says Donnell. As Natalie put it – we dated for two years, broke up for 10, and then got married.”. Only one year later, Donnell began playing competitively. Leahy isn’t Donnell’s sole musical concern either: He also occasionally performs with his wife, Cape Breton fiddling sensation Natalie MacMaster, and the duo intend to take to the road for a three-month tour spring 2010. There are fiddlers and then there is Donnell Leahy, whose lifelong devotion to playing and performing as a solo artist, with his 10 siblings in the much-fêted group Leahy (of which he was frontman and business lead) and, more recently, alongside wife and musical collaborator Natalie MacMaster has cemented his reputation as a peerless instrumentalist able to synthesize … donnell leahy; natalie, donnell & family; macmaster leahy kids; music. As the musical leader & front-man of Leahy for over 15 years, it is no surprise his own style emerged; it is said he created a new genre of music simply known as “Leahy.” Combined with his mesmerizingly strident, exultant, and high-energy performances, this style has become Donnell Leahy’s musical signature. "Every time I hear him play, I’m in awe," she said. “I’d be the four-year-old playing against the 12-year-olds,” he recalls. MacMaster and Leahy, who have been married for 16 years, are a formidable musical duo. “Probably when I was in my mother’s womb,” he admits, half-jokingly – especially since Leahy parents Frank and Julie led their own band. Adjust the Expectations, Can Sexless Marriages Work? “But we want to be together as a family, and we want to play together. “You can’t tell your kids just to practice – you have to get them an audience and have a reason to play. “It is remarkable how he can play with this intense power, but maintain the sweetness and tone of the instrument. Sadie, who has Down Syndrome, has broken three of them, because they are fragile and she’s three. “Speaking from the objective of a fellow fiddler, Donnell takes the violin and truly soars,” says Natalie MacMaster, Donnell’s wife and an expert on the bow-and-strings in her own right. This year’s edition runs July 5 to 9 at Viamede Resort in Stoney Lake, Ontario. DL: Our lives evolve around music: listening, dancing, singing. They spoke to ParentsCanada separately about parenthood; read on to see whether they’re in tune. “Natalie and I had talked about doing a fiddle camp, but we merged the idea of doing one with Leahy. It elevates what I do." “Along the way, I heard a bit of classical and then the magnificent Stephane Grappelli. She released her first recording when she was only 16 and has gone on to win multiple Juno Awards, Canada’s version of the Grammy. the kids all step dance and play fiddle, as well as a variety of other instruments. One of the things we get this year: MacMaster and her husband of 17 years, fiddler Donnell Leahy, on tour with their seven children. He was one of 11 siblings, eight of whom performed and recorded under the family moniker, Leahy. The first to walk onto the stage was their 11-year-old son, Michael, followed by the two oldest daughters, Mary Francis and Julia. Donnell’s competitive streak spurred him on. “It’s phenomenal to be able to tour with your family,” he explains. the way, they make time to enjoy their kids and fiddle around! MacMaster said Leahy’s approach to music is more technical than hers. Most of the kids will join them onstage. What is your favourite aspect of home schooling your children? “I was exposed at the right time to all these different styles of music,” Donnell notes. their father is the extraordinarily gifted fiddler from lakefield, ontario, donnell leahy, and their mother is natalie macmaster, the award winning fiddler from cape breton, nova scotia. Leahy is a Canadian folk music group. Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy Since marrying in 2002, two of Canada’s brightest stars have been captivating audiences all over North America with their exceptional musical skills and obvious joy at playing the fiddle together. Did you know that your version of Internet Explorer is out of date? What do you admire most about your partner’s parenting skills? “Touring has always been a challenge, and with children there are always a lot of logistics to work out,” he explains. Just as it’s impossible for anyone to extract Donnell from his family roots, it’s unfathomable to distinguish the self-taught master fiddler from his instrument. “The fiddle is such an extension of my body,” he admits. Fiddle style: Rooted in Celtic music, but … Natalie MacMaster announced today on her Facebook page that she and husband Donnell Leahy have welcomed a new baby daughter, Maria Bernadette, into the world. Don't miss Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy on tour Rebekah Littlejohn Photography Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy’s five older children have performed a Celtic Christmas concert with them for years. I was 19, first or second year of college, and it was Donnell, and he said "Hi, you probably don't know me but my name is Donnell Leahy." Donnell Leahy and Natalie MacMaster perform alongside touring musicians during A Celtic Celebration at the Lied Center on Tuesday, March 5, 2018, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Collaborations: Songs of Joy & Peace w/ Yo-Yo Ma (2008); A Christmas Gift to You w/ Johnny Reid (2013); One w/ Donnell Leahy (2015); A Celtic Family Christmas w/ Donnell Leahy (2016). shows. I found out she was in Truro at Teacher’s College, so I drove there and asked her out for dinner. Donnell Leahy Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family Donnell Leahy is an actor, known for The 27th Annual Juno Awards (1998), Life Is a Highway: Canadian Pop Music in the 1990s (2011) and Justin Hines: Days to Recall (2011). What has surprised you most about becoming a parent? The members of Leahy take significant pride in their Irish roots and Cana… Yo-Yo how old is donnell leahy really like our family and our group – we ’ just... For two years, are a formidable musical duo and his technique is amazing runs July to! 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