Fowler Center Series presents Celtic Spring April 10 in final performance of 2009-10 season

March 16, 2010 -- The Fowler Center Series presents its eighth event of the 2009-10 season with Celtic Spring as the closing performance of the season, Saturday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m., Riceland Hall, Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro. Described as “a burst of energy, driving music, riveting dancing, youthful exuberance, and unparalleled talent all in one family,” Celtic Spring is six siblings who play the fiddle and step-dance, backed by their mother on the keyboard and their father on percussion. Their music hails from Ireland, Scotland, and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. While firmly grounded in the traditions of their ancestors, Celtic Spring's style is all its own.

The six Wood family siblings have spent their lives on stage, bringing their unforgettable performance to live and TV audiences in the millions. They each began learning the fiddle and Irish step dancing at the age of four years old. The siblings are also classically trained violinists, and this influence has brought a certain beauty and clarity to their music.   

To learn the traditional fiddle styles of Ireland, Scotland, and Cape Breton, the siblings have studied under some of the finest fiddlers today, including Natalie MacMaster, Alasdair Fraser, Martin Hayes, and Liz Carroll.

A defining element of Celtic Spring is the dual expertise in music and dance. The Wood siblings are champion Irish dancers, and they have been influenced by French Canadian and Cape Breton step-dancing styles, as well. The tight choreography, powerful footwork, intricacy, and precision of their dancing astounds audiences. 

Celtic Spring's amazing performances have taken the band around the United States, Canada, and Europe. They have performed at theaters nationwide, including symphony appearances, and at numerous festivals, including the top Irish festivals in the country, such as the Milwaukee Irish Fest and the North Texas Irish Festival.

In 2002, Celtic Spring was named Grand Champion of the World at the World Championships of the Performing Arts in Hollywood. In summer 2007, 12 million people watched Celtic Spring on the top-rated TV show of the season, NBC's “America's Got Talent,” produced by American Idol’s Simon Cowell. The band was one of the top five finalists. Celtic Spring has also been featured on “The Today Show,” ABC's “Good Morning America,” WB's “Steve Harvey Show,” the “Tom Joyner Show,” PBS, E.W.T.N. and Japan’s Nippon Television.

This past summer, Celtic Spring performed at the international festival, World Youth Day 2008, in Sydney, Australia. The band has also released two albums, “At the Source” and “Cornerstone.”

Ticket prices are $30 and $20 for adults; $24 and $16 for ASU faculty and staff; $23 and $15 for senior adults and K-12 students; and $10 and $6 for ASU students. Tickets for all Fowler Center Series events may be purchased by calling 870-972-2781 or 1-888-278-3267, or online at www.yourfowlercenter.com. On performance evenings, the box office in Fowler Center opens one hour prior to the event. Visit www.yourfowlercenter.com, or call Fowler Center at (870) 972-3471.

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