Biography
A unique combination of Celtic harp and traditional winds, from two highly skilled and knowledgeable performers.
Harpist Andrea Stern and multi-wind player Laura MacKenzie convey the warm resonance of traditional Irish and Scottish music with loving expertise. Their renditions of airs, songs, jigs and hornpipes on Celtic harp, wooden flutes, whistles, pipes, concertina and voice are transporting and truly enchanting. Andrea and Laura have been collaborating on concert performances, recording projects and community programs since 2002, after discovering a shared love for the music of these traditions. They have brought this music to numerous festivals, fairs, concert halls, community centers and schools around their region.
Andrea has performed as a soloist and with orchestras from both North and South America. She has given concerts around the world as a featured performer on cruise ships and has been the Principal Harpist for the Minnesota Opera. Andrea trained at the Cleveland Institute of Music, New England Conservatory in Boston, and The University of Arizona. In the Twin Cities Andrea provides concerts and educational programs which orient students and audiences to the wonders of the concert and Celtic harp.
Laura toured nationally with Lorie Line and her Pop Chamber Orchestra for nine years, has appeared on "A Prairie Home Companion", produced many recordings of Irish and Scottish music, studied ethnomusicology and did much wandering about the countrysides of Scotland and Ireland, discovering the wonders of traditional music. Laura has been well-honored for her work in this realm of music, and is currently a Bush Artist Fellow in Traditional and Ethnic Performing Arts.
Willow Brae is also available as a trio with percussion, and with Irish step-dancers. In addition to concerts, Laura and Andrea also offer school, family and community programs, combining music with stories, lore and dance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For more information, visit: