| IF YOU GO |
| The “LEAHY Family Christmas” |
| Where: George Mason University Center for the Arts |
| When: 8 p.m. Friday |
| Info: $24 to $48, Family Friendly half price for students through grade 12; 888-945-2468; cfa.gmu.edu |
The “LEAHY Family Christmas” promises to pack the house at GMU’s Center for the Arts, so pull on your clogs and get ready to answer “The Call To Dance,” the segment of every LEAHY concert when audience members are invited to join the band in a lively step dance. Can’t dance? Then settle back and enjoy listening to the personable, high-energy family from Canada doing what it does best. Each of the eight siblings plays multiple instruments and executes traditional step dancing brought to Cape Breton Island in the 18th and 19th centuries by Scottish immigrants. This year, several of their children who usually come along for the trip will participate in one or two numbers.
A typical show features Erin on piano, Agnes on keyboard, Siobheann on bass and Maria on guitar, while Donnell, Doug and Angus fiddle up a storm and Frank drums to a fare-thee-well surrounded by Plexiglas to control the volume. Should the occasion arise, they can interchange instruments and even call on their three other siblings to substitute for the regular lineup. Agnes, for instance, just welcomed her seventh baby, but eagerly joins the others for local shows. The vitality LEAHY projects harks back to their childhood when they learned to divide their time among farm chores, music and numerous sports at which all excel.
“The key factor in our development was growing up in a house without a television,” Erin said. “Our parents removed it so we would live in a creative and active atmosphere in which everyone took part. Because we lived on a beef farm, we corralled the cattle, tended the crops and cut wood. To us, that was just life, hardworking, but very good.
“Our mom learned to play the piano and step dance as a child on Cape Breton Island and Dad grew up near Peterborough, Ontario, where the Irish settled, so he was an expert on the Celtic fiddle. Both were excellent musicians and provided opportunities for us to take music lessons and learn many instruments. On one occasion, Siobheann thought Dad was taking her to a violin lesson, but he surprised her by putting a bass in the van and taking her to a bass teacher. Some of our happiest times were the house parties when friends would show up with or without instruments and we would play music all evening.”
Memories of those happy times inspired their next CD, sure to be their fifth prize-winning recording. Due out in the spring, it is a combination of original tunes and songs with some traditional pieces they have arranged. In addition to being crack instrumentalists, all are equally adept at composing and contribute to their growing library.
Every summer, the family conducts a music camp near their childhood home in Lakewood, Ontario. The reason for establishing it, Erin explained, was to help youngsters develop a skill that would be a satisfying hobby for life. During a show in the United States, they casually mentioned plans to open the camp. The moment it became official on their Web site, all the spots were booked by students from this country who had heard about it, leaving no slots for Canadians. The second year, they made certain that the local children and others throughout Canada were accommodated.
“Most people lead a busy life and everything you do colors and makes your life,” Erin said. “Knowing that we are part of something that generates joy, love and beauty as music does gives us relentless pleasure.”
