"Celtic Thunder Christmas" on PBS Recorded in Poughkeepsie, NY and edited for your Local
Public Television Station and for the DVD, CELTIC THUNDER CHRISTMAS
Special�was to be aired�over 500 times during the 2010 Holiday Season.
Unfortunately, due to the preparations of the extensive Fall 2010 North
American Tour, the show was filmed in September, which is late to get it
into Public Television Stations Fall Schedule. It would be enormously
helpful if you could check with your local Public Television station and ask
them if and when they will be airing the "New Celtic Thunder Christmas
Special". If the demand from members is there, they are more likely to
schedule it.
Celtic
Thunder encourages you to support your local PBS member stations. By
contributing at the local level, you support your station's ability to
purchase the programs you enjoy, as well as to produce local programming
and to serve as a vital educational and cultural resource within your
community. Your voice is heard on a Community Level, of what you choose to watch on your Local PBS Station.
If you would
like to contact your Local PBS Station about Quality Programming in your
community, click
HERE
to find the correct PBS in your City/Town.
PBS Pledge Drives and Contributions
Each
PBS Television Station is Independently Owned and Operated, and
operates solely on contributions from your Local Community, which allows
PBS to bring you new entertainment on a Local Level. PBS advertisement
enables artist & entertainers such as Celtic Thunder, to have the
needed publicity to bring tours to your Local Community. All
contributions are tax deductible and goes to an excellent cause, and is
assisting your Local Community in quality programming for you and your
entire family!
On TV, on CD, on DVD and NOW ON TOUR
The
Celtic Thunder Fall 2010 North American Tour is now underway, and is
the longest tour so far in the history of Celtic Thunder. There is still
excellent seating available in many venues, and at great prices too!
Just click HERE to visit the Official Tour Page to find a show in a city near you!
Exclusive PBS "Meet & Mingle" Passes
PBS
is offering special "Meet & Mingle" passes where fans get to meet
two members of the group, chosen at random, face to face! "Meet &
Mingle" passes can only be obtained from participating PBS
stations. This opportunity gives a more personable feel when meeting
the performers, and this is brand new to the Celtic Thunder tour this
time around. With your "Meet & Mingle" pass, fans will be able to
meet in a room with two of the guys and have the opportunity to talk to
the performers, get autographs, and just hang out for a little while
with Celtic Thunder and other fans like you! Just click HERE to find a local PBS station near you to inquire about the exclusive PBS "Meet & Mingle" passes for Celtic Thunder.
Keith Harkin comes from County Derry in Northern Ireland, where he
started performing for the public at the tender age of four, wowing
audiences with his beautiful voice and musical talent. Now at 24, Keith
has played to audiences across Europe the USA and Canda. He has
performed at the Tavistock Festival in the UK, and at the Glasgowbury
Festival in Northern Ireland for the past two years and has composed and
recorded songs for the BBC show Dha Theanga. Keith is also an
accomplished songwriter and guitarist and has opened concerts for acts
such as John Martyn, The Undertones and David Kitt and has recently
started his own record label, Busty Music. He describes his musical
likes and influences as anything with a bit of heart and soul, Tom
Waits, Neil Young, The Beatles, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes. Keith is an avid
surfer, and spends his time catching waves on the West Coast of Ireland
when he is not songwriting or touring with Celtic Thunder. He is also a
guitar enthusiast, and appreciates a rich sounding acoustic tone, a
mellow jazzy blues feel, or even a rock and roll distorted twang that he
can blast through his Fender amp. As such his inability to pass a
guitar shop means that his collection of guitars grows every time he
goes out on tour!
On returning back to Derry from a recording session in London in
2005, Keith heard about the auditions for Celtic Thunder that were
underway and decided to call into the auditions on spec just as they
were finishing. He auditioned and was very happy to be asked then and
there to attend the final auditions in Dublin, and was ultimately
selected as one of the five soloists for the Celtic Thunder show.
Self-described singer-songwriter-surfer Keith does not fit into any
particular role in Celtic Thunder. "I'm just doing what I'm doing, being
myself," he says. "I don't really have to play a part. I just get up
there with my guitar, and I get to perform and play my own song. Thats a
pretty incredible opportunity, to do that with this amazing orchestra
behind me."
..
Paul
Byrom Vocalist
Paul Byrom is often hailed as Ireland's premier young tenor and with
good reason. From an early age his special vocal talent brought him the
attention of music coaches and talent spotters and the Dublin-born tenor
began voice study and training when he was just seven years old. Paul
later went on to study under the legendary Dr. Veronica Dunne, Ireland's
leading lady of opera and a renowned vocal teacher. He was a
professional singer by his early teens and Paul recorded his first album
as a boy soprano at 14. His second release, entitled VELVET, was in
2005 and it reached #2 in the Irish music charts. Paul went on to
release his Christmas album entitled "I'll Be Home For Christmas" in
2008, which charted in the Classical Billboard Charts. Paul has also
appeared in a Fair City, an Irish soap opera and as a finalist on
Celebrity Jigs and Reels (Irelands answer to Dancing with the Stars).
His talent as a tenor has taken him far and wide, and some of the
many highlights of his career to date include performing for dignitaries
such as Irish President Mary McAleese, Emperor Akihito of Japan and
Former Irish President and UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary
Robinson. Paul is an avid sports fan and he has also performed at many
large-scale and high profile sporting events such as an All-Ireland
Final in Croke Park, Dublin, a Six Nations rugby game in Landsdowne
Road, Dublin, a Pittsburgh Steelers American Football game at Heinz
Field in the US, a Hearts Vs Barcelona pre-season friendly soccer game
in Scotlands Murray Field, and at a Boston Celtics basketball game in
the Banknorth Garden in Boston. Finally on Saint Patricks Day in 2009
Paul had the honor of performing (along with the other soloists of
Celtic Thunder) at the White House for President and Mrs. Obama and
their guests.
In 2007 Paul was invited to audition for Celtic Thunder and was
promptly selected as one of the five soloists. "I was thrilled to be
selected for Celtic Thunder and to get the chance to work with Sharon
and Phil," says Paul. Fans call Byrom The Swanky Tenor for his suave and
romantic style, which is stamped on such numbers in Celtic Thunder as
You Raise Me Up and Love Thee Dearest. In Celtic Thunders latest Public
Television special Celtic Thunder Christmas, Paul performs a haunting
original number, Christmas Morning Donegal, which was written especially
for him by Celtic Thunder Musical Director Phil Coulter.
Ryan
Kelly Vocalist
Ryan comes from The Moy in Co. Tyrone in Northern Ireland. Although
he studied accountancy at Queens University, Belfast and is a qualified
Chartered Accountant by trade, music and theater have always been Ryan's
true passion. He first began singing in public at the age of seven and
has won many accolades and awards for his performances, including SCOR
2007, a national Irish Singing Competition, and the BBCs Country Cool
competition in 2003. In his solo career to date Ryan has performed
alongside Westlife, Girls Aloud and Simply Red at the televised Children
In Need Charity Concert. Ryan's love of musical theatre has also let
him to perform the lead role in the Willie Russell musical Blood
Brothers and the role of Judas Iscariot in Jesus Christ Superstar. His
musical theater experience has led Ryan to more song and dance routines
in Celtic Thunders new show It's Entertainment and the new Public
Television special Celtic Thunder Christmas, where he finds his dancing
feet in the duet Baby It's Cold Outside. Ryan is also a fanatical sports
fan and has also played Gaelic football and basketball at national
level. One of the highlights of his Celtic Thunder journey so far was
the opportunity to stand in the Bank North Garden in Boston and sing the
US National Anthem to open a game for his beloved Celtics.
Ryan's love for drama made him the perfect pick for the role of the
rogue or Dark Destroyer in the Celtic Thunder Show. Nothing could have
prepared Ryan however for the momentum surrounding Celtic Thunder. "It's
great fun being the bad guy," said Ryan. "For me, there's no better
role, and they've given me great songs to do it with. Besides,
thankfully I'm a much better singer than I was an accountant!" Now in
the middle of his 4th tour with Celtic Thunder, it appears the Ryan's
future in the Entertainment Industry is secure.
George
Donaldson Vocalist
Born and raised in Scotland and a bus builder by trade, George
Donaldson is the Scot in Celtic Thunder. He is a self-taught and
accomplished musician, who has mastered guitar and flute and is
currently being taught to play the fiddle by his daughter Sarah.
George's love of Celtic music stems from his childhood in Glasgow, where
his main influence was his late father Bernard, who had a love and
appreciation of all kinds of live music. One of George's greatest
thrills was performing for his Dad and 65,000 other fans at the Glasgow
Celtics opening match of the 2000 season at Celtic Park in Glasgow. Now
at 42 years of age, George is a well-established singer in the vibrant
Glasgow and West of Scotland Folk scene. His musical influences are
Harry Chapin and Jim Croce, Christy Moore, and the Scottish group The
Proclaimers, whose numbers he performs in Celtic Thunder. George has
recorded folk sessions for BBC Scotland and has made appearances at
Glasgows own Celtic Connections and the Glasgow West End Festival. He
has also performed (alongside the other soloists in Celtic Thunder) at
the St Patrick's Day Parades in New York, Boston and Chicago in the US.
George has toured as part of Celtic Thunder and solo in America,
Canada and Europe, and he has a very special fondness for Germany, whose
language he continues to attempt to master. George was cast in Celtic
Thunder as the steadfast one, and he carries the distinction of being
the sole Scotsman in the show, as well as the only married family man of
the group. Although George misses his wife and daughter when he is on
tour, he enjoys the easy camaraderie on and off stage with the other
members of Celtic Thunder. He sees the new direction his life has taken
with Celtic Thunder as being the most exciting of his musical career to
date and feels he has best of both worlds, a rich and supportive family
life at home and a fun and challenging job that allows him to travel.
Damian McGinty Vocalist
Damian McGinty rounds out the group as the youngest member; Damian
started with Celtic Thunder when he was 14 and has recently turned 18
years old. Damian joined Celtic Thunder as a schoolboy and has since
completed his school education and gone on to study Performing Arts and
Theater in his hometown of Derry in Northern Ireland. When he is not on
tour with Celtic Thunder, Damian lives with his parents, his brother and
sister. Although Damian is still a teenager, he has been performing for
over a decade and he had won his first music competition by the time he
turned six. His musical influences are classic artists such as Dean
Martin and Frank Sinatra. Damian is a huge Michael Buble fan and would
love to meet and possibly perform with him someday. After winning a
singing competition in 2006, Damian's public profile was significantly
boosted and he made appearances at various concerts including the
Millennium Forum for Derry City football team. Damian is sports mad and
when he is not singing he loves playing football, running and attending
sporting events. At the moment Damian is learning to play golf and tries
to practice at any opportunity.
Damian first came to the attention of the Producer Sharon Browne and
Music Director Phil Coulter when a CD he recorded for Charity was passed
along to them. He was invited to come along to audition for the show
and was immediately cast in the role of the teenager or boy wonder.
Damian's excitement and enthusiasm for Celtic Thunder is infectious, and
after seeing him perform there was no way he would not be part of the
show. His fans have watched with delight as Damian has progressed from a
Boy Soprano in the original Celtic Thunder show to Baritone in Celtic
Thunder Christmas, essentially growing up before their eyes. His
performance of the Phil Coulter original First Christmas Together in the
Public Television Christmas special, shows just how far Damian has
grown in such a short time in the spotlight. He often draws the biggest
reaction from the crowd and throngs of Celtic Thunder fans have lined up
for the pure-voiced Damians autographs and t-shirts. The fans are
crazy, laughs Damian. "I dont know why they're walking around with my
ugly mug on their stomach, but its great to have fans that really love
what you do.
Neil
Byrne Vocalist,
Guitar, Percussion
Music has always been a major part of Neil Byrne's life. The son of a
professional musician, Neil by the age of 5 was instinctively drumming
on anything in front of him. He began learning the guitar when he was 7,
hugely helped and encouraged by his family. He also began playing piano
from an early age, and this skill was to become a positive writing tool
for him in the future. Growing up, Neil was attracted to the bass
guitar and spent hours playing along to old LPs. By the time he turned
11, Neil had started a band, which performed regularly at school
concerts, and won an All-Ireland Music and Arts beating out over 33,000
participants. Neil's band also appeared on Ireland's national television
station RTE and played numerous open-air summer festivals around
Ireland. By 15 Neil was playing with his father's band, performing at
corporate events, balls, weddings, etc., and the following year Neil's
father retired and handed the reigns over to Neil.
A mutual friend invited Neil to play at a function for one of
Ireland's most renowned songwriters and producers, Phil Coulter. He
began working with Phil and was honored when asked to play bass guitar
in his backing band. From here Neil was picked to record backing vocals
for the Celtic Thunder debut DVD, and subsequently play lead guitar in
the live show. Neil would have to say the most memorable and prestigious
performance of his career to date was in Radio City Music Hall in New
York City. Since then he has toured America and Canada extensively with
Celtic Thunder and has had the opportunity to step forward and take the
lead in vocals on occasion. Such an occasion presented itself in the new
Celtic Thunder Christmas special for Public Television, where viewers
can enjoy Neil's wonderful performance of the Disney classic, When You
Wish Upon A Star and the classic It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like
Christmas.
