FARMINGTON – New England Celtic Arts will present Irish step champions “The Gothard Sisters” at North Church Concerts with the Farmington Historical Society on Thursday Sept. 8 and at Phillips Area Community Center on Saturday, Sept. 10. Curtain time is 7 p.m. at both venues.
The Gothard Sisters are a dynamic all-female Irish music and dance group from the Pacific northwest. The three girls (who are truly sisters) perform and record new Celtic arrangements of well-know traditional tunes and songs, as well as their own original compositions from their six recorded studio albums.
As champion Irish dancers who have competed overseas multiple times at the World Championships, they include the visual elements and the exciting rhythms of Irish step dancing into tightly choreographed, high-energy variety shows.
The signature sound of the Gothard Sisters’ latest recording “Mountain Rose” blends the freedom and lyricism of traditional folk forms with the discipline gained from years of training as classical musicians and the competitive world of Irish dance.
Greta Gothard competed at the world championships of Irish dance four years in a row as a soloist and a team member on a figure choreography that placed second in the world. She now plays guitar, keys, cajon and several more instruments and sings backup vocals to help round out the sound of the Gothard Sisters.
Willow Gothard has always enjoyed the influence of Irish and Celtic music and other dance music. This led to, among other things, a very successful competitive Irish dance career in which she placed in the top five several times in the western region and competed in solos, recalling at the World Championships in 2009. During this time, her interest in traditional Irish music grew and subsequently she began writing her own tunes.
Solana Gothard has always followed in the musical footsteps of her older sisters. Having studied violin with teachers and mentors from an early age, she also found herself being drawn to singing and vocals as well as her violin playing. Putting her vocal talents to use as the lead singer of the Gothard Sisters, she has also added bodhran, penny-whistle and various percussion instruments to her repertoire. She is also an accomplished Irish dancer and was the youngest dancer from the Pacific Northwest ever to qualify for the World Championships.
At North Church, 12 High Street, Farmington, refreshments available before the concert and at intermission by donation. Jam session at 6:15 p.m. Concert tickets are $15. The Phillips Area Community Center is located at 21 Depot Street Phillips. Tickets $15. More information is available at the NECA website http://www.necelticarts.com.
I see this group last year they were awesome. I will be going this year if you can I fully recommend you also go.