From left to right: Máiréad Nesbitt, Chloë Agnew, Lisa Lambe and Susan McFadden


In much of the music world, personnel changes can spell the end of a band’s career. Even if a group survives a change in a key member, there’s no guarantee fans will accept the new edition of the group. But in the world of Celtic Woman, which this winter welcomed Susan McFadden, the ninth singer to join its ranks, change may be an asset for the group.
At least that’s how Chloë Agnew, one of two remaining original members of the Irish-accented vocal group, sees it.
“I think when people come along to see us, they know that. Celtic Woman has new faces all the time,” Agnew said. “It’s ever-changing, it’s ever-fresh, it’s ever-new. And I think some people are still glad to see that there are still two originals left there, myself and (violinist) Máiréad (Nesbitt). We love it. We stuck it out, and we’re so happy to be here.”
A huge part of Celtic Woman is embracing the new combined with the old, she said.
In fact, Agnew said, being able to change and evolve as new members come and go may be the thing that enables Celtic Woman to have a far longer life than the usual music group.
Certainly the evolving lineup hasn’t hindered Celtic Woman — which performs April 12 at Wichita’s Century II — so far.
Originally, Celtic Woman was created for a one-off television special filmed in Ireland, and musical director David Downes and producer Sharon Bowne essentially recruited four singers and fiddle player Nesbitt to perform that single concert. Instead, PBS picked up the film of that performance, and it became a popular fundraising program for PBS in 2005. This helped pave the way for the release of the show as a concert DVD that sold more than 1 million copies. In all, the group has sold more than 6 million copies of its CDs and DVDs.
The success has been sustained as the lineup has seen singers leave, and others join and then depart. Original member Lisa Kelly, expecting a baby in May, stepped away, and McFadden joined Agnew and Lisa Lambe (who joined Celtic Woman last year) as the singers in the group.
Kelly, though, was still on board for the newest Celtic Woman project, “Believe,” released Jan. 24. It’s a dual release, with a concert DVD capturing the live debut of the “Believe” material when the group performed it last fall at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre, and a CD featuring studio versions of the new songs.
Agnew said the “Believe” project offers something fresh for Celtic Woman fans.
“I think with ‘Believe,’ we decided to choose music that would inspire,” she said. “It can be a very stressful and troubled world we live in right now, and I think the idea behind ‘Believe’ was choosing music that would inspire a little bit of hope and a bit of faith in these troubled times. We chose music like ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and these powerful songs that are very moving, and they mean a lot to people all over the world. I think that was the idea behind this particular ‘Believe’ album.”
Audiences can expect the show Celtic Woman is taking on tour this year to feature many elements of the concert that was filmed for the “Believe” DVD.
“With this particular show, I mean, the set is quite similar, the lights, the costumes, it’s all pretty similar to what you see on the DVD,” Agnew said. “So it’s great to have those elements that people know, they they’ve seen it on the television (the DVD was aired on PBS in December) and now they want to see it in person.
“We’ve taken a lot of the music we’ve recorded, and we’re going to be performing all of that new music live,” she said. “Of course, we’re going to be mixing it up with some of our fan favorites and some of the old classic Celtic Woman songs that people love to hear.”
A key difference, of course, will be McFadden’s presence. Although she’s stepping into the slot held by Kelly, audiences shouldn’t expect McFadden to be a carbon copy of Kelly within the show.
“She is a completely different voice to myself and Lisa Lambe,” Agnew said of McFadden. “And she has a musical theater background and theater training, so that’s her approach to music. It’s a little more theatrical, and it’s a different kind of performance to myself and Lisa Lambe.”
Agnew knows McFadden from being in productions as kids. While Agnew has made quite a name for herself in Celtic Woman, McFadden has had major success in theater and television.
“We lost touch over the years, and she kind of grew up and she moved to London and performed over there,” Agnew said. “But I always, always followed her career and followed her wonderful success and am a huge admirer of hers. So I’m a little in awe of her joining us now and a little bit star struck by her being around us. It’s fantastic to have her with us. I know she will bring something new to Celtic Woman. She brings a whole new beauty and a whole new musical beauty to Celtic Woman. I’m very excited to actually get on stage and perform with her.”

By Alan Sculley Eagle correspondent
The Wichita Eagle
Wichita, KS
Thursday, April 5, 2012

Hi.
The best of the best.
Celtic Woman - Mná Na hÉireann

Hi.
A group of legend pioneers of Irish music in the world
Something to Believe In

Hi.
Beautifull and amaizing duet.
Celtic Woman - My Heart Was Home Again

An international performance at Purdue’s Elliott Hall of Music on Sunday afternoon resembled a scene from a fairytale.

Four Irish women from the ensemble known as Celtic Woman came to Purdue as a stop on their 60-city US tour promoting Celtic Woman’s new Believe album. Abigail Eddy, the director of marketing for Purdue Convocations, said this group was booked for this performance due to an increase in popularity resulting from their appearances on public television over the last few years.

“Purdue audiences have continued to request more Irish music, so this seemed like a great fit,” Eddy said.

Chloë Agnew, Lisa Lamb, Susan McFadden and fiddler Máiréad Nesbitt were dressed to match the fairytale theme in elegant full-length dresses. The stage was adorned with drapes and large chandelier ornaments hanging from the ceiling that were accented with ever-changing colors.

An Irish spin was present in the performance as it prominently featured a fiddle and other instruments from that region such as bagpipes and a fife. The stage lights, in addition to green dresses worn by the star performers, also contributed to the show’s culture.

The singers harmonized together melodically throughout the performance, as they belted out their lyrics and held notes out with stunning vibratos. Nesbitt gave a very animated performance as she danced to the top of the stage’s staircase, spun around and even flipped her long hair wildly as she played her fiddle.

Chelsea Mohan, a senior in the College of Health and Human Sciences who has been looking forward to the show for months, said she could relate to Nesbitt since she has played the violin herself for over 10 years.

“I thought the fiddler was amazing the way she could run across the stage and still play so beautifully,” Mohan said.

The audience clapped wildly and even screamed with delight at several points during the show. Elliott Hall of Music’s audience of over 3,000 awarded Celtic Woman’s performance with two standing ovations.


By SARAH ROGERS Staff Reporter
Posted: Monday, March 26, 2012 10:00 am
The Exponent online
West Lafayette, IN

Hi:
Member family in Irish:

English write                Irish write(scríofa i nGaeilge)

Family                         Teaghlach
family(including relatives)                    Lion ti

Grandfather                 Seannathair
Grandmother                Seanmhathair
Father                        Athair
Mother                        Mathair
Son                            Mac
Daugther                     Inion
Brother                        Dearthair
Sister                         Deirfiur
Uncle                          Uncail
Aunt                           Aintin
Cousin                         Col ceathar
Nephew                       Nia
Niece                          Neach
Man                            Fear
Woman                        Bhean
Husband                      Fearceile
Wife                            Bheancheile 

You'll Never Walk Alone (feat. Gwinnett Young Singers) | Celtic Woman - BELIEVE
From Left to Right Chloë Agnew, Lisa Lambe, Lisa Kelly and in the background playing the Fiddle is Máiréad Nesbitt

From left to right: Máiréad Nesbitt, Lisa Lambe, Chloë Agnew and Susan McFadden

Also check out the great video at the bottom of the page.

Celtic Woman has performed all over the world, but Saturday’s 8 p.m. stop at Toyota Presents the Oakdale Theatre stands out on its 60-city Believe tour for several reasons, the foremost being that it’s St. Patrick’s Day.

Chloë Agnew, 22, is one of the four beautiful women who fronts the group’s brand-new show, which also features dancers, including champion Irish dancer Craig Ashurst, a bagpiper, a six-piece band and the Aontas Choir.

She and the rest of the quartet — Lisa Lambe, Celtic violinist Máiréad Nesbitt and Susan McFadden — were more than excited that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has declared Saturday Celtic Woman Day in Connecticut.

“I found out just the other day, and I literally let out a big old yelp,” said the blonde beauty by phone from the tour bus en route to Syracuse. “It’s one of the biggest honors that ever happened to me. Not many can say a governor named a day after them. It’s one of the highlights of my career. So I’m really looking forward to this Saturday,” calling it “in my top five” of memorable St. Patrick’s Days over the years.

Malloy’s proclamation read, “Your wonderful success and acclaim speaks to your hard work and dedication, and the people of Connecticut thank you for bringing your talents to our state.”

Agnew, who has been a member of Celtic Woman since she was 14, comes from an entertainment family. Before Celtic Woman producer David Downes discovered her, she’d already won an international song competition in Egypt, representing Ireland. Downes produced her first two albums, which she recorded when she was 12 and 14, and is now working on another.

That kind of talent is typical of the show, which Agnew says, “was the basic idea to begin with” — solo artists melding their talents.

In 2005, Downes asked her to be part of what was to be a one-night show, which then went to PBS and launched the phenomenon.

“We were all solo artists in our own right,” Agnew says. “The show is equally divided among us. We have about two solos each and then come together and do group ensemble pieces, then some duets.

“I actually think that’s one of the best things about us, because we are so different in our own right. It’s nice to showcase that and then come together.”

Agnew calls this show “probably the best one to date. We’ve spent many weeks perfecting and polishing the show ... and there’s so much different music that appeals to different people. I’m amazed at who comes to the show, and thrilled that music can bring people together.”

The tour is celebrating the release of its new “Believe” live concert DVD and studio album, the latter debuting at No. 1 on Billboard’s World Music and Top Internet Album charts.

Saturday, of course, they’ll also be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, American style. “We have parades in Ireland, but we don’t dye any rivers green,” she laughs. “Somewhere you might find green beer, but that might be a new trend. ...”

Celtic Woman / Chloë Agnew: Interview & ''Danny Boy''

By Donna Doherty, Register Arts Editor
The New Haven Register
New Haven, CT
Published: Thursday, March 15, 2012

Members Chloë Agnew and Susan McFadden give you a short tour.
Click the link below to watch.
http://video.foxnews.com/v/1512514185001/

Fox News.com
March 16, 2012