Celeste Ray brings Celtic harmonies to town

Laura Ashley Lamm
Staff reporter

June 08, 2007 10:14 am

— Having enjoyed and performed music since the age of 6, notable musician Celeste Ray brings her talents of expressing Celtic music and playing unique instruments to Tarboro from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, June 14 at Calvary Episcopal Church's Clark Hall.
The event is a special fund-raiser for the Friends of the Library. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased from any Friends of the Library board member or at the Main Street or Pinetops branch libraries.
"My first recital was given at age 6. After college, I studied composition and recorded a CD before performing professionally in coffee shops and wine bars in Berkeley and San Francisco," said Ray.
During those days, Ray was performing jazz and light classical music. Her interest in Celtic music developed while briefly living in Australia.
"A brief tour and a six month stay in Queensland, Australia, while composing a musical kept me in the company of many Irish and Scottish folks, I learned much about folk music and folk artists, as most Australians are of Celtic descent," said Ray.
"Initially, my interest in Celtic music began with an artist named Loreena McKennitt, a Canadian harpist, singer and composer who brought Celtic and world music to the attention of many people in the United States via her recordings and touring. "
Traveling more around the globe, a visit to the United Kingdom and Ireland inspired Ray to compose music to ancient Celtic blessings as well as poems of the Irish. This resulted in Ray's recording of the hit, "Celtic Blessings."
Ray attended the University of California in Los Angeles, Sonoma State University and graduated with a degree in Music Performance from El Camino College. Though she spent a lot of time in California, Ray currently resides in New York City.
For Ray, a career in performing has been both a rewarding and challenging experience.
"The most rewarding aspect of playing this particular style of music is simply knowing we are keeping a Celtic tradition alive," she said.
"Seeing others enjoy the beauty and haunting quality of ancient melodies, especially when they sing a long is another reward in and of itself. Teaching audiences about the unique psaltery is also educational, so in that way, it feels like a nice service. "
On the flip side, the challenge comes simply in logistics.
"If an outdoor stage, the weather can be a problem and there can be challenges with maintaining and projecting a good sound via an appropriate sound system. Getting to and from performances with equipment is also tricky and hard work," said Ray.
Ray is in the process of forming an all female Celtic group, "Three Celtic Women," featuring herself, Wendy Luck and Sandra Reid. Ray noted that in the future the group could be expanded to five women.
"I am in the process of interviewing Irish step dancers and Celtic harpers," she added.
Currently she is performing Celtic music for a Brooklyn Library Series.
Here in Tarboro on Thursday night, residents can expect a full-fledged celebration of the Spring.
"We will be celebrating the Spring season with performances of Celtic traditional music and original material," said Ray.
"The Bowed Psaltery, a 25-stringed instrument dating back to the 1400's, will be featured. We'll also sing songs by such luminary poets as Robert Burns and Thomas Moore and hope to inspire others to sing along as is Celtic tradition."
The Bowed Psaltery is of the Zither family and an instrument that "emits an ethereal harp-meets-violin sound" and is played with two bows.
Coming along to Tarboro with Ray, is her accompanist, Israel born Ziv Shalev.
At the age of 15, Shalev began his quest to perfect music. He was accepted by the music department of Kiriat Sharet High School. After graduation in 2000, Shalev put put his music career on hold and joined the Israeli Defense Force.
After finishing his call to duty in 2003, the following year he moved to New York City and began majoring in music at the City College of New York. He is a well-known guitarist who performs throughout the United States.
The duo are making their way to Tarboro thanks to a friendship between Ray and Friends of the Library President Bea Burnett.
"I knew her from Brooklyn. She is originally from California and moved to New York City where her and I met a few years ago," said Burnett.
"Celeste is a highly accomplished musician. She plays Celtic music, teaches piano and composes her own music."
She added, "I think her music will appeal to a lot of people and I encourage everyone to come."

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