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GlenS
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« on: February 13, 2018, 08:54:42 PM »

Tara McNeill is a violinist, singer and harpist from Antrim, Ireland.

 Tara graduated with First class honours in the BA in Music Performance (violin) at the Royal Irish Academy of Music under the tuition of Michael D’Arcy. She has toured China, Argentina, Chile and Mexico with Camerata Ireland and world renowned pianist, Barry Douglas, performed with the RTE Concert Orchestra and Ulster Orchestra, led the Ulster Youth Orchestra and both the RIAM Chamber and Symphony Orchestras. Tara performed the Irish premiere of Finzi's Violin Concerto in the National Concert Hall, Dublin in April, 2013.

 Tara  has toured Canada, China, Japan and Holland as both a singer and solo violinist with the vocal group Anúna . She is also the solo violinist on their album ‘Illumination’.

 In Celtic Woman's 2015 TV special 'Destiny', Tara appears with the Irish music sensation playing the harp.

 Orchestral tours have taken Tara throughout Europe, China, Japan, Korea and America performing in venues such as Carnegie hall, New York, Oriental Arts Centre, Shangahi and the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Beijing. She has won many awards including the Inaugural Flax Trust Classics £5000 bursary and The George & Angela Moore Flax Trust Classics Audience Award in 2012, the Leo Gibney Award for Chamber Music (RIAM), Ballymena Music Festival’s prestigious Young Instrumentalist Award in 2009 and Holywood Music Festival’s Ulster Bank Festival Gala Cup and the d’Arcy Cup and Award in 2010.

 Exciting collaborations have included artists such as Bono, Josh Groban, Celtic Woman, Damien Rice, Julie Feeney and Il Divo. She has appeared on RTE's Late Late Show and Saturday Night Shows. 

 Tara was a lead in the show 'Ireland Calling' in which she was a singer, violinist and harpist.  The show appeared in Copenhagen, Denmark and Dublin, Ireland in 2014.

 She was selected as Head Girl in St. Louis Grammar School, Ballymena 08/09 and obtained a First class honours in the RIAM's Diploma in Music Teaching and Performance in June 2009.

Tara taught violin in Mount Anville Junior School, Dublin.

 
FAQ

Q: What type of violin does Tara play?

A: A Roger Hansell violin.

What does Tara call her violin?

A: Roger. She previously called her violin Jacob when she was obsessed with Twilight.

Q: Is Tara married?

A: Yes. To Alex Bernstein.

Q: What is Tara McNeill's charity of choice?

A: Aware. The organization provides information, understanding and support for individuals who had a diagnosis of depression or bipolar, as well as family members supporting a loved one. https://www.aware.ie/

 
« Last Edit: April 27, 2019, 06:35:48 PM by CWazyTom » Logged
CWazyTom
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« Reply #1 on: March 24, 2018, 11:24:10 PM »

"Getting to know you..."


Tara's triple-threat:
  • Tara comes from a musically-inclined family. All her siblings played instruments.
  • When she was young, she wanted to sing.
  • By age 7, she was playing piano.
  • By age 8, she also started playing violin (the instrument she went on to study at the degree level.
  • Tara was a violinist and singer for Anuna (2011-2016).
  • Tara was a violinist, singer, and harpist as a lead performer in Ireland Calling.
  • Tara sings in the soprano range.

Tara's Teachers:
  • Elizabeth Steele
  • Clair Esler
  • Michael D'Arcy

Leading the pack:
  • Tara was part of the junior and senior NEELB (North Eastern Education and Library Board) youth orchestras.
  • She lead the senior orchestra at age of 17

Sources:
http://www.taramcneill.com/#!Antrim Guardian/zoom/c1nh5/c149k
https://twitter.com/tara_mcneill/status/769440040002912256
http://www.anuna.ie/tara-mcneill



Family:

  • Tara is a youngest child.
  • Tara has at least 2 brothers. Both play cello and piano.
  • Tara has a sister that plays violin.
  • Pretty much everyone in Tara's family sings.

Violin
  • Tara has been known to perform on a Roger Hansell violin.
  • She's a classically trained violinist.
  • We know from Mairead Nesbitt that it's incredibly difficulty to play both classical and contemporary styles professionally. However, I bet Tara can handle herself well in either style.


Tara's Favorites
  • Violin style to play: classical
  • Pop singer: Taylor Swift
  • Food: Pizza (particularly Dominos Pizza) and the cookies from Dominos*
  • Drink: Cookie Milkshake*

* Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t-mIUzoqU0 (~17-18 minute mark)

Other fun facts about Tara:
  • Tara played in the Ulster Youth orchestra for 7 years (and led the orchestra in her final year)


Sources:
http://www.taramcneill.com/#!Antrim Guardian/zoom/c1nh5/c149k


Whenever you find stuff that highlights what an amazing performer and woman Tara is, be sure to post here!
« Last Edit: April 27, 2020, 08:24:37 AM by CWazyTom » Logged
kay_girl_97
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« Reply #2 on: April 16, 2019, 01:03:26 AM »

Tara is married to Alex Berstein. His last name was mentioned in an Irish newspaper
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