Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul, Nine Time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, London Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony at The Kennedy Center, Boston Pops, original musical star of Riverdance, The Chieftains, Sting, Hall and Oates, Randy Brecker, Patti Smith, Paula Cole, Al Di Meola, Steve Gadd, founding member of Cherish the Ladies, Grammy awarded musician, movie soundtracks including Gangs of New York, performed for Presidents and Royalty worldwide…this is a short list of accomplishments, headliners, tours, and affiliations. Fiddler Eileen Ivers has established herself as the pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today.
It
is a rare and select grade of spectacular
artists whose work is so boldly imaginative
and clearly virtuosic that it alters the
medium. It has been said that the task
of respectfully exploring the traditions
and progression of the Celtic fiddle is
quite literally on Eileen Ivers' shoulders.
The Washington Post states, "She
suggests the future of the Celtic fiddle."
She's
been called a "sensation" by
Billboard magazine and "the Jimi
Hendrix of the violin" by The New
York Times. "She electrifies the
crowd with a dazzling show of virtuoso
playing" says The Irish Times. Ivers'
recording credits include over 80
contemporary and traditional albums and
numerous movie scores. Her latest
CD, entitled 'Eileen Ivers & Immigrant
Soul' continues to display why Ivers is
hailed as one of the great innovators
and pioneers in the Celtic and World music
genres.
The
daughter of Irish immigrants, Eileen Ivers
grew up in the culturally diverse neighborhood
of the Bronx, New York. Rooted in Irish
traditional music since the age of eight,
Eileen proceeded to win nine All-Ireland
fiddle championships, a tenth on tenor
banjo and over 30 championship medals,
making her one of the most awarded persons
ever to compete in these prestigious competitions.
Being
an Irish-American, the intrigue of learning
more about the multicultural sounds of
her childhood took hold. After graduating
magna cum laude in Mathematics from Iona
College and while continuing her post-graduate
work in Mathematics, Eileen fully
immersed herself in the different genres
of music which she experienced growing
up in New York. Perhaps
it was the mathematical mind coupled with
her passion for seeking parallels
in certain traditional music styles which
contributed to what has become the
signature sound featured in much of Eileen's
recordings since the late 1980's.
In 1999 Eileen established a touring production to present the music that now encompasses Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul. The ensemble headlines prestigious performing arts centers, guest stars with numerous symphonies, performs at major festivals worldwide, and has appeared on national and international television. The L.A. Times proclaims, "Ivers' presentation was music with the kind of life and spirit that come together when talented artists from different backgrounds find the linkages that connect all forms of music...no wonder the audience loved every minute."
Eileen created Beyond the Bog Road, a multimedia concert of music, story, dance and film. The concert celebrates the journey of the Irish immigrant and showcases how Irish music and dance have integrated with various roots music of North America to create one of the richest cross-fertilizations of folk music styles in the world. It is a celebration of the immigrant’s journey – it is the story of the Irish immigrant’s impact on America and America’s impact on the Irish immigrant. The Beyond the Bog Road CD will be released in 2012.
Eileen
is also privileged to share the stage
with two of the world's most celebrated
violinists, classical virtuoso Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg
and jazz great Regina Carter, in the critically
acclaimed 'Fiddlers Three'. This show
continues to fascinate symphony audiences
throughout the U.S. "'Fiddlers Three
will go down as one of the great Boston
Pops Events." - Boston Globe.