The Natalie MacMaster-Donnell Leahy Show at the Mary Webb Centre for the Arts in Highgate, on Dec. 14, 2024 was sold out in August with on-line ticket sales. The ticket buyers knew that they were going to be in for a truly awesome show and that’s exactly what happened.

From beginning to end, the audience was totally enthralled by the quality of the music, the enthusiasm of the whole family and the extraordinary talent of this extremely gifted family. Natalie and Donnell plus 5 of their 6 children there have a rare ability to play their fiddles. But several of the children play more than one instrument with Alec playing fiddle, guitar and accordion, and Mary Frances the piano and fiddle. They also sing, either by themselves or with a few of their sisters. One of the boys, Michael, was not at the concert, since his hockey team was calling him to Kingston for a game.

Mary Frances often accompanied on the keyboard both Natalie and/or Donnell and was able to keep up with them the faster they played. It was  mind-blowing to watch and hear. They often had the whole family on stage and at other times just a few. All of the kids can step dance, either individually or as a group and it was wonderful to watch. It was obvious how much Natalie and Donnell love their children when you watch the huge grins on their faces as their kids blew the audience away.

Natalie told stories about growing up on Cape Breton Island where kitchen parties happened all the time, on weekends and in the middle of the week. Folks would drop in at their home, fiddle in hand and the music would begin. Natalie began playing at a very young age and learned to play from listening to records, or the radio or to her parents and their friends and relatives. They very seldom used music written down on paper.

Donnell grew up in Lakeland Ontario, also in a very musical family, and also learned to play his fiddle when he was young and started to play in church and at concerts.

There wasn’t a time during the concert that the audience wasn’t fully engaged with this truly incredible family. The standing ovation and continued clapping made it obvious that they were wanted back on stage for one more song. We certainly hope that they will return soon.

Thanks to our very generous sponsors, Bill Gray of Gray Ridge Egg Farms and L.H. Gray and Son Company. Thanks to our sound tech Joel Morningstar who provided support for the two technicians and equipment lads, Evan Cormier and Will Leone, who put up an amazing stage presence and their own tremendous sound boards. Also to the band that accompanied this amazing show, Elmer Ferrer on guitar, Remy Arsenault on bass and drummer Mark Kelso.

l-r: Natalie MacMaster, plus Maria, Sadie, Julia, Clare, Alec, Mary Frances and Donnell Leahy. Missing was Michael Leahy