Sephira

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Sephira
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Carrickmacross/Dublin, Ireland
Genre = Classical Crossover/Soundtrack
Years_active = 2006-present
Label = Cicero/MDM
URL = [http://www.sephira.ie www.sephira.ie]
Current_members = Joyce O'Leary
Ruth O'Leary

Sephira is an Irish band comprising sisters Joyce O'Leary (vocals & violin) and Ruth O'Leary (violin & vocals. They released their debut album ‘Believe’ in 2006 to critical acclaim.Fact|date=July 2008 The combination of the sisters' vocals and violins is the essence of the Sephira sound, which is largely classical/crossover with traditional Irish influences.

Background

The O'Leary sisters are from Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, Ireland. Both learned music from an early age: Joyce was two and a half and Ruth was six when they first started learning violin. Joyce performed in the National Concert Hall, Dublin aged just three, playing a Bach minuet, and was named Ireland’s Most Promising Violinist when she was nine.Fact|date=July 2008

Ruth studied music performance at London's Guildhall School of Music to study for a BA in Music Performance. She continued her studies in Dublin, where she received her first class honours B.A. with a performance of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto at the National Concert Hall,Dublin. During her years of study Ruth performed with world-class acts such as Rodrigo y Gabriela and featured on their 'Live in Manchester and Dublin' album.

2006-2008

The band's first album 'Believe' was released in 2006. Since then Sephira have completed two successful Irish tours, performed live on the Irish television station (TG4) and appeared as special guests for artists at a number of Ireland’s major concert venues, including the Olympia Theatre in Dublin, the INEC in Killarney, the Cork Opera House and the Millennium Forum in Derry.

In January 2007 they supported Clannad at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall as part of the Celtic Connections festival televised by the BBC. In March 2007 they performed on Lithuanian TV as part of the Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations in Vilnius, and in April they appeared on (RTE2 with Brian McFadden. In December of that year they joined Kanye West for concerts in Dublin's Phoenix Park and The Odyssey in Belfast, and then flew to Nigeria to perform with West at two large-scale stadium concerts.
In March of this year Sephira appeared as special guests for Clannad on their extensive UK Revival Tour performing in prestigious venues throughout the UK including The Sage in Gateshead, The London Palladium and The Brighton Dome. In May '08 Sephira performed at a private function for Larry Hagman, the actor better known as J.R Ewing from the hit TV series Dallas. Other celebrities with whom they have appeared on TV are Michael Bublé, Westlife, Kanye West, Alison Moyet, Tom Baxter, Katherine Jenkins, Brian Kennedy, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Andrea Corr and Paul Harrington.

Discography

'Believe' (2006) was the band's debut album. It features eleven original compositions and a version of 'If' by David Gates. The album was recorded in The Cauldron Studios, Dublin, and was produced by producer and instrumentalist Bill Shanley. [cite web|url=http://www.mary-black.net/disco/musician/2.htm|title=Bill Shanley biography at Mary-black.net|accessdate=2008-07-01] Other musicians featured on the album include Ruby Ashley, William Butt, Noel Eccles, Karen Hamill and former band member Colm Henry.

Single

A single, ‘Love of My Life’ written by Freddie Mercury, is scheduled for release in August/September 08.

References

External links

* [http://www.sephira.ie Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/sephira Sephira Myspace]
* [http://www.bebo.com/sephiramusic Sephira Bebo Page]
* [http://www.youtube.com/sephiratv Sephira's Youtube Page]