Magical Strings Announces 25th Annual Celtic Yuletide Concert Schedule --- Throughout Puget Sound!

Group Celebrates 25 Years of Annual Yuletide Concerts, New CD release "Where Dragons Dance"

Seattle, Washington. The Celtic ensemble Magical Strings brings an unforgettable evening of seasonal song, dance, and storytelling to Northwest venues from Seattle to Portland throughout December, 2003!

Always a must-see event, this years Celtic Yuletide performance marks a special anniversary for the group: Its 25th Annual Concerts! Along with their five children, Philip and Pam Boulding have welcomed each of the past 25 Yuletide seasons with a Magical Strings performance featuring the familys music, as well as a variety of accomplished Northwest dancers, musicians, and other performers. In this latest Celtic Yuletide Celebration, Magical Strings will play many of their favorites from past years as well as selections from their critically acclaimed new CD, "Where Dragons Dance." Magical Strings Yuletide Concerts are known across the Northwest as warm, joyous, family-friendly events, and its sound has been hailed by The Washington Post as warm, graceful, and sonically gorgeous."

The concert will once again reunite the Boulding familys three generations of musicians and dancers, who will also be joined by many special guest artists and friends. With Celtic harps, hammered dulcimers, whistles, concertina, strings and harp-like instruments from around the world, Magical Strings and friends will blend music of different lands with a traditional Celtic repertoire and soulful original compositions. Much more than a concert, the evening also offers dancing, storytelling, juggling, dramatic choreography, poetry and solo harp in a beautiful and symbolic presentation of the timeless Yuletide journey from darkness to light.

A Musical Gathering of Family and Friends
Magical Strings is led by Philip Boulding, who composes, arranges, and plays harp for the group, along with wife Pam, who plays hammered dulcimer. Daughter Brittany, a senior at Rice Universitys Shepherd School of Music in Houston, will share a special violin solo along with her lively Irish fiddling. Geoffrey and Brenin, the two oldest, will join in with their fiddle and cello, and twins Morgan and Marshall will join the family ensemble with their concert whistle, harmonium, wire-strung harp and endless merriment. Concertgoers may even be favored with a dance from the Bouldings wee granddaughters Kailey and Rowan, in full Celtic costume.

This years Yuletide entertainment also includes the lightning-fast feet of the Raney Irish Dancers, juggler extraordinaire Thomas Arthur, and songs of the season with Mike Saunders on Cape Breton fiddle and guitar, and Julie Barret-Ziegler, vocals. Tom Creegan will play haunting melodies on the Irish pipes, and Jarrod Kaplan will supply lively percussion, in addition to a beautiful Irish carol sung in Gaelic by Colleen Raney of the Raney Irish Dancers. Professional storyteller Cathryn Wellner, who led stories in earlier years, visits from Canada to celebrate the occasion, along with several other celebrated guests including jester/bard David-Michael & Glenda Monasch (with Eurythmy), and operatic singer Victor Morris. By the evenings end, the audience also becomes a key part of the festivities, with members invited to don a costume and enter the medieval processional through the hall with the musicians, or to join in the caroling to close the nights merriment.

About Magical Strings

Since 1980, Magical Strings has increased its popularity worldwide, performing to critical acclaim throughout the United States, Canada, the British Isles and Japan. The group has toured and recorded with Dan Fogelberg, appeared on Garrison Keillors Prairie Home Companion," and played two sold-out tours of Japan. They have recorded 13 albums on Flying Fish/Founder Records, EarthBeat Records, Magic Hill Music, and their newest on Allegros Alula Visions label.

Philip and Pam Boulding were awarded a residency from an Irish arts organization in County Kerry, Ireland, to compose music in an old stone cottage on a bluff overlooking the western sea, which inspired much of the music on their CD Legend of Inishcahey, and their latest album, Where Dragons Dance.

COMPLETE 2003 YULETIDE CONCERT SCHEDULE
Please visit www.magicalstrings.com for more information

Portland -- Saturday, Dec. 6, 7:30 PM First Congregational Church, 1126 SW Park Ave. Ticket info: 503-233-6890 or 253-857-3716.

Bellevue -- Sunday, Dec. 7, 2:00 PM The Theater at Meydenbauer. Ticket info: 206-325-6500

San Juan Island -- Friday, Dec. 12, 7:30 pm, Friday, San Juan Community Arts Center, 100 Second Street (at Blair and Second). Ticket info: 360-378-3210

Olympia -- Saturday, Dec. 13, 7:30 PM Saint Johns Episcopal Church, 114 20th Ave SE. Ticket info: 253-857-3716

Kent -- Sunday, Dec. 14, 3 PM, Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center. Ticket info: 253-856-5050

Tacoma -- Friday, Dec. 19, 7:30 PM First Baptist Church, 902 Market St. Ticket info: 253-857-3716

Seattle -- Saturday, Dec. 20, 7 PM., First Presbyterian Church of Seattle, 1013 8th Avenue. Ticket info: 253-857-3716

Mt. Vernon -- Sunday, Dec. 21, 7 PM The Lincoln Theater, 712 S 1st Street. Ticket info: 360-336-8955

TICKET INFORMATION BY CITY:

Portland Yuletide Concert Tickets

General seating, $16 adults and $10 children (12 and under); $18 and $12 at the door. Tickets are available on-line at www.magicalstrings.com, at TicketsWest (503-224-TIXX), the Portland Waldorf School (503-654-2200) and Cedarwood School (503-245-1477). For more information contact (503) 233-6890. Tickets often sell out quickly, so advance purchase is advised.

Olympia Yuletide Concert Tickets

General seating, $15 adults and $10 children (12 and under); $17 and $12 at the door. Tickets are available at (253) 857-3716 or online at www.magicalstrings.com, as well as at Traditions Fair Trade (360-705-2819), and Rainy Day Records (360-357-4755). Tickets often sell out quickly, so advance purchase is advised.

Seattle Yuletide Concert Tickets

Reserved seating section, all seats $25; general seating, $18 adults and $12 children (12 and under); $20 and $14 at the door. Tickets are available at (253)-857-3716, online at www.magicalstrings.com, at TicketMaster (206-292-ARTS), from Elliott Bay Book Co. in Pioneer Square, Galway Traders in Ballard, the Seattle Waldorf School (206-524-5320), and Dusty Strings in Fremont. Tickets often sell out quickly, so advance purchase is advised.

Tacoma Yuletide Concert Tickets

Reserved seating section, all seats $18; general seating, $15 adults and $10 children (12 and under); $17 and $12 at the door. Tickets are available at 253-857-3716, online at www.magicalstrings.com, via TicketMaster at 253-627-8497, or the Harp and Shamrock at 2704 N. Proctor Street. Tickets often sell out quickly, so advance purchase is advised.

Magical Strings Contact Information

Philip and Pam Boulding are currently available for in-studio appearances, performances and interviews. For further information, photos, complimentary admission to the show, or for a review copy of new CD Where Dragons Dance, please call (253) 857-3716 or (253) 857-6402, or e-mail info@magicalstrings.com.

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