Monday, February 17, 2003

WILMINGTON, NC -- Eileen Ivers, star of the Irish fiddle, will perform at 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 18, in Kenan Auditorium at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Backed by her band, Immigrant Soul, Ivers is recognized for creating programs that showcase a unique Irish-fusion sound that draws from a wide range of musical styles while remaining true to Celtic traditions. The performance is the sixth of UNCW’s eight-part Arts in Action series.

From her star musical turn in Riverdance to her 30-plus medals in the All-Ireland Championships, Ivers has established herself as the world’s pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle. She has performed with such diverse artists and ensembles as Luka Bloom, Paula Cole, Patti Smith, the Chieftans, the Hothouse Flowers, the Boston Pops Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Born in an Irish community in the Bronx, N. Y., Ivers began to play the fiddle at age eight and studied with Limerick-born fiddler Martin Mulvihill. Along with her 30 medals in the All-Ireland Championships, Ivers won seven All-Ireland fiddle titles and an eighth on tenor banjo, making her as the most-honored competitor ever in the All-Ireland Championships. She graduated with honors from Iona College.

Ivers is a founding member of the all-woman folk group Cherish the Ladies and has toured with the group throughout Europe, the United States, Russia, the Far East, Mexico and the Caribbean. Her recording credits include appearances on more than 75 contemporary and traditional albums and numerous movie scores. In 1999, Ivers released the solo recording Crossing the Bridge. The CD blends her Irish-based fusion style with the sounds of celebrated world-music performers such as John Doyle and Seamus Egan of Solás, Bakithi Kumalo (heard on Paul Simon’s Graceland) and jazz artists Eddie Gomez and Randy Brecker. Ivers also performed on Back to Titanic, which features original film music not included on the first Titanic album, as well as new versions of selections from James Horner’s Oscar-winning score.

Tickets are $18; $12 for UNCW faculty, staff and senior citizens; and $6 for UNCW students with valid ID and children 12 and under. Call the Kenan Auditorium box office at 910/962-3500 or 800/732-3643 outside of the Wilmington area. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Additional information is available on the Web at www.uncw.edu/stuaff/arts.