The Celtic Tenors
The Celtic Tenors have established themselves as the most successful Classical Crossover artists ever to have come out of Ireland. Signed on the spot to an international record deal in London in 2000, their first album went on to achieve double platinum status in their homeland, Number 1 in Ireland and Germany, Number 2 in the UK, and won them the “Echo Award” for ‘Best Classical Crossover Act’ in Germany.

A full-length TV Special “Ein Grosser Irischer Abend” was broadcast to millions on German television, and then released as a coast-to-coast TV Special on PBS in the USA – “Celebrate with the Celtic Tenors”. There swiftly followed a second album – “So Strong” – recorded at Abbey Road Studios , produced by the legendary Mike Moran, of Queen and Freddie Mercury fame. Their third album – “The Irish Album” – was recorded at home with those legends of Irish folk – The Dubliners.

The Celtic Tenors have all had classical training, sung leading roles with top opera companies, performed in oratorio and concerts worldwide, and continue to show great flexibility in melding their voices to suit the appropriate Classical, folk, Irish and pop genres. Matthew Gilsenan, James Nelson and Daryl Simpson combine their unique voices, character and wit to provide a show overflowing with vitality and variety from start to finish.

The Celtic Tenors are privileged to have as their Musical Director the talented David Munro from Glasgow. Having worked on the music staff for some of the world’s leading ballet companies, and later as Musical Director for Scottish Opera-Go-Round, as well as several West End shows, David’s varied experience and virtuosic piano skills have helped raise The Celtic Tenors to another level, as they continue to re-invent the whole tenor idiom.

Their latest album, produced by David Munro and Calum Malcolm (Blue Nile), features such guests as Samantha Mumba, Brian Kennedy and the 80s super-group Air Supply, and has already reached Number 4 in the Canadian Charts, and the Top Ten in the US Billboard Charts. This album was released on the Dara label in Ireland under the title “We are not islands”, and on the Telarc label worldwide as “Remember Me”.

Another exciting guest on this album is one of the brightest new talents to emerge on the Classical Crossover scene, the soprano Deirdre Shannon.

The Celtic Tenors were invited to sing for Bill Clinton during a visit to Dublin Castle, and later in a private audience for Secretary General of the United Nations—Kofi Annan, and his wife Nanne—at the request of U2’s front-man Bono. With a total album sales worldwide, including compilations, of over one million, and a full international touring schedule, The Celtic Tenors continue to move from strength to strength.

Matthew Gilsenan
Matthew Gilsenan is one of Ireland’s most accomplished young tenors and has achieved considerable success singing in competitions throughout the island country. His oratorio performances include Beethoven’s Mass in C, Symphony No. 9, Mendlessohn’s Walpurgesnacht, Saint-Saëns’ Christmas Oratorio and Handel’s Messiah.

James Nelson
Originally from Sligo, Ireland, James Nelson is a graduate of University College Dublin. His busy opera and concert schedule has taken him throughout the UK and Ireland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Russia, Israel, Singapore and the United States. From an oratorio repertoire of more than 60 works, highlights include Frank Martin’s Golgotha in Germany and Switzerland and L’Enfance du Christ alongside Katia Ricciarelli in Rome and Florence. Nelson has performed more than 50 roles in opera and operetta, including Pinkerton, Lensky. Alfredo, Tichon and Basilio. Nelson currently writes a weekly column for The Sligo Weekender.

Daryl Simpson
From Omagh in Northern Ireland, studied with tenors Peter Alexander Wilson and Nicolai Gedda, and completed his Opera Masters Degree at the Alexander Gibson Opera School in Glasgow. Daryl joined Opera Theatre Company’s “Young Associate Artist Scheme,” performing in many recitals and broadcasts, and in Monteverdi’s Coronation of Poppea. Daryl furthered his studies at Zürich’s “Internationales Opern Studio”, where he sang Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), and roles in Les Mamelles de Tirésias (Poulenc) for Oper Zürich. As well as performing worldwide on the concert platform, Daryl is also the Musical Director of the Omagh Community Youth Choir.