The Washington, D.C based band, IONA CELTIC will bring its singular representation of the greatest Celtic land in the world—America—to Richlands, Saturday, March 18, 2023, 7 p.m. at Richlands First Methodist Church at 402 Suffolk Avenue in Richlands.
Presented by CART (Citizens for the Arts) and sponsored by: Cook Associates CPA Services, LLC, The George M. Cruise Foundation and Mary Sue Whitt with additional funding from Danny and Diana Coulthard, First Sentinel Bank, and Dr. Charles R. King. IONA CELTIC strong vocals from all Celtic countries emphasizes that America is not only the repository of all these cultural influences, but also the progenitor of many of its own.
Conceived in 1986, IONA has evolved into one of the top rated pan-Celtic groups in the world. Co-founders Barbara Tresidder Ryan (lead vocals, Celtic bouzouki, guitar and bodhran (Irish drum)) and Bernard Argent (wooden flute, whistles, doumbek, back-up vocals) are joined by Air Force Band veteran Jim Queen on fiddle, banjo and vocals and Chuck Lawhorn on 6-string bass guitar, whistles and vocals. To add a new and exciting visual dimension to IONA’s performance the group features Marsha Searle an Irish dance performer.
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Marsha Searle is Executive Director and a principal dancer of Footwork’s Percussive Dance Ensemble. She grew up studying ballet and Scottish Highland dancing then earned BFA degrees in both Composite Dance and History, focusing on Modern and World Dance at Brigham Young University. During her time at BYU Marsha performed with the International Folk Dance ensemble for 4 years, touring the United States, British Isles, Canada, and Belgium and performing in the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Olympics. She has been dancing professionally with Footwork’s since 2004 and with IONA CELTIC since 2016. Mrs. Searle has earned widespread recognition for her dynamic rhythm and high-energy footwork, and seeks to advance her artistic mission to perform, engage and create.
Tickets: Adult — $15 and Student — $10 available at the door or calling (276) 963-3385 or order tickets on line at joinCARTtoday@gmail.com.
Ginger Branton is a guest columnist for the Virginia Mountaineer for Citizens for the Arts. She can be reached at joinCARTtoday@gmail.com.
