Cherish the Ladies: Celtic Christmas

SOPAC | Thurs., Nov 30th | 7:30 PM

Cherish the Ladies | 11.30 | SOPAC

“It is simply impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn’t enjoy what they do,” says the Boston Globe speaking of Cherish the Ladies, the long-running, Grammy Award-nominated, Irish-American supergroup that formed in New York City in 1985 to celebrate the rise of extraordinary women in what had been a male-dominated Irish music scene.

For more than three decades, Cherish the Ladies has shared timeless Irish traditions and good cheer with audiences worldwide. They’ve brought their signature blend of virtuosic instrumental talents, beautiful vocals and stunning step dancing to the White House, the Olympics and to PBS with their television special, An Irish Homecoming.

Led by founder Joanie Madden (flute, whistle), the ensemble consists of Mary Coogan (guitar, mandolin, bouzouki), Mirella Murray (piano, accordion), Kathleen Boyle (piano, accordion), Cathie Ryan (vocalist) and Liz Knowles (fiddle). They are all acclaimed for their many achievements both together, and separately. The performance is completed by a roster of regional, national and world champion step dancers who join them in every performance. Their artistry has captivated audiences worldwide.

The New York Times calls their music “passionate, tender, and rambunctious,” and the Washington Post praises their “astonishing array of virtuosity.” They’ve won recognition as the BBC’s Best Musical Group of the Year and named Top North American Celtic Group by both the Irish Music Awards and NPR’s Thistle and Shamrock – not to mention having a street named after them in the Bronx!

They’ve collaborated with such notable musicians as The Boston Pops, The Clancy Brothers, The Chieftains, Vince Gill, Nanci Griffith, Pete Seeger, Don Henley, Arlo Guthrie and Maura O’Connell as well as being the featured soloist with over 250 nights of symphony orchestras.

Cherish the Ladies are in constant demand worldwide as their reputation and admiration from both fans and critics alike continue to grow. Their name may come from a traditional Irish jig but after thirty years, they’ve proven that the jig is still not up as the ladies blaze forward into another decade of music making.