MacNeil and Weaver performs in Berkeley Springs

Noted singer and virtuoso player of hammered and mountain dulcimers, Madeline MacNeil, will perform on Sunday, October 28 at 3 p.m. in the Presbyterian Church in Berkeley Springs during the Fifth Annual Celtic Heritage Celebration and Kirking o' the Tartan. MacNeil, no stranger to Berkeley Springs and fans here, has performed numerous holiday concerts at Coolfont Resort as part of the Coolfont Foundation concert series.

MacNeil, who lives near the Shenandoah River in northern Virginia, has sung and played the dulcimer for over 30 years in concert halls, churches, monasteries, universities and country stores throughout the United States. She has performed at the O'Carolan Festival in County Roscommon, Ireland; the Glasgow Festival of the Arts in Scotland; and for Nonsuch Dulcimer gathering in East Norton, Leicestershire, England.

Norm Weaver, guest piper, will begin the Celtic Heritage Celebration with the Highland Pipes 2:30 p.m. outside of the church playing the Highland Bagpipes. Weaver has been a 25 year member of the Washington Scottish Pipe Band and piper to both the Washington Saint Andrews Society and Clan Gregor, USA. He plays for weddings, funerals (including frequent piping at Arlington National Cemetery), church services and community celebrations.

The Celtic Heritage Celebration and the Kirkin o' the Tartan acknowledge not only the Presbyterian connection to the Church of Scotland but also honors the Celtic heritage of descendants of immigrants from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and other parts of northern Europe who settled in the area and other parts of the USA and Canada. There is no admission charge. The public is welcome.