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Lily Neill is recognized as “…part of the new Harp revolution extolling aspects of harp music never previously heard,” 2005 Irish Music Magazine.
She was a prize-winner at the All-Ireland Harp competition and has won numerous awards, honours and scholarships for her technical and artistic abilities as well as her original compositions.
More recently, Lily was named LiveIreland.com's “2006 New Female Artist of the Year.”
Lily’s musical style is at once rich in tradition and uniquely her own. Her experiences working with artists from different genres and backgrounds, from folk to classical and rock spheres, have played a major part in shaping and continuing to shape Lily’s music.
Central to Lily’s style is her utilization of techniques and repertoire from instruments other than her own. In defining Lily’s style, The Green Man Review writes, “It is delightful to welcome a new talent and one that is brimming with ideas, creative energy and yet has a vice grips-like hold on traditional methods and methodology, while pushing the envelope stylistically.”
Lily began her performance career at a very young age, performing for President Bill Clinton at the age of fourteen.
The very next year she was featured as a soloist in the American premiere of John Cameron’s “Missa Celtica.”
Lily has since gone on to perform at numerous venues in the United States and Europe, including The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage as well as its Concert Hall with The Chieftains and the late Derek Bell in 2001 & 2002, Wolftrap Center for the Performing Arts, the University of Limerick Concert Hall and London’s National Theatre.
In February 2007, she was honoured to be Artist in Residence at Strathmore Hall in the United States. Strathmore commissioned a new work from Lily, which she wrote for harp and Japanese koto and premiered at the end of her residency.
Among the festivals at which Lily has performed are Brittany’s renowned Festival Interceltique de Lorient, The Potomac Celtic Festival, Celtic Fest Chicago, the Washington Irish Festival and the Irish Arts Festival in conjunction with the Embassy of Ireland.
Lily has also appeared in film and on television and radio: RTÉ/TG4’s “Ardán” and “Céili House” (Ireland), Lähiradio’s “Folk and Roots” (Finland), BBC’s “Late Junction” (U.K.) and NPR’s “Traditions” (U.S.A.), among others.
In 2004, Lily released her debut solo album, “Without Words,” which has garnered an impressive array of reviews and notice since its release. In an interview with “The Irish Echo,” The Chieftain’s Paddy Moloney said, “I got a copy and was just amazed […] I knew she had tremendous promise.” Sweden’s “Hallandsposten” calls “Without Words,” “a thrilling journey across the Irish tradition” and “Hot Press,” Ireland’s essential guide to music, gave the album an 8 out of 10 and wrote of Neill: “The CD reveals her to be far more than the superb technician she undoubtedly is….” America’s “Celtic Beat” wrote: “Without Words could only better be entitled Beyond Words.
One word for this CD is exquisite. […] this music goes far beyond simply artistry of execution and aesthetics, for it reaches out and entices you into Lily Neill’s world.”
Lily Neill completed her degree with 1st Class Honours at the Irish World Academy at the University of Limerick, Ireland, in Spring 2007. She also spent a semester studying music at the prestigious Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland.
In addition to her performances and studio work, Lily has given master-classes and lectures on the harp’s musical potential and historical background.
She continues to perform, teach and record in the United States and Europe. |
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"This is harp in its fullest, harp at its best." The Irish Edition
"Lily's technique leaves you breathless and virtually ... without words." www.Folkworld.de
"Lily Neill's music is gorgeous, fascinating, & wonderful...a considerable talent." Irish Music Magazine
"... This ain't your grandma's harp. A great, great player set for a long, long run!". www.LiveIreland.com/Irish American News
"A shared universal sonic gene comes through her fingers as if the music inside her is truly ancestral." Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin
"Part student, part culture seeker, and part sage, within her diminutive frame, Lily Neill packs one hell of a compositional and interpretive gift." Irish Music Magazine |
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Lily Neill, Photo by Henry Uniacke. |
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LIVE IRELAND AWARDS 2006
Female New Artist of the Year:
Lily Neill
Here is an amazing harp player who has joined
Marie Ni Chathasaigh and Michelle Mulcahy in redefining the instrument.
Her first album, Without Words, tosses her into the middle of a world stage, as she becomes more and more familiar.
Like all great musicians, she must be heard to be understood and appreciated properly.
Just know this----this ain't your grandma's harp.
A great, great player set for a long, long runl.
http://www.liveireland.com/news_awards06.shtml |
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Lily Neill - Whithout Words (2004) |
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Lily Neill is an award-winning harper and teacher who resides in the west of Ireland. Her first solo CD, "Without Words", features many of her own pieces as well as dance tunes and evocative slow airs from Ireland and Scotland. Lily's original compositions have been influenced by many kinds of music ranging from classical to Asian to rock. She has incorporated these styles and utilized traditional and non-traditional instruments to create her own dramatic musical sound. On selected tracks, Lily's clean, crisp playing is supported by instruments such as koto, jushichigen, viola, mandolin, guitar and bodhran.
Includes:
The Golden Eagle / The Humours of Tuamgreany
The Sunflower / The Castle Jig / McIntyre’s Fancy (Lily Neill / Sean Ryan / John Brady))
The Little Purple Plum Tree (Lily Neill)
A Year's Turning (Lily Neill)
General Munroe's Lament
My Ladie Laudian's Lilt / The Mountain Lark
Tantivy (Lily Neill)
Coinnleach Glas an Fhomhair
Father Newman's / Pigtown
Neach Neamhshaolta (Lily Neill)
The Red Ticket / The Dandelion / The Dancing Royal (Lily Neill)
Mna na hEireann (Women of Ireland) (Sean O’Riada)
The Silver Heart / Mr. Underhill / The Girl with the Flaxen Hair (Lily Neill) |
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Notes
Lily Neill was awarded LiveIreland.com's 2006 Female New Artist of the Year award. She is recognized as "[...] part of the new Harp revolution extolling aspects of harp music never previously heard" (Irish Music Magazine) and released her debut solo CD, "Without Words" in 2004.
"Without Words" is a fresh interpretation of the harp, featuring Irish and Scottish Traditional music and modern compositions along with Neill's own original music. Lily’s use of instruments as diverse as the Japanese Koto and Jushichigen, Electric Bass and Guitar, the Irish Bodhrán and others have contributed to the uniqueness of “Without Words.”
The album has received acclaim from Europe to America, with Gert-Ove Fridlund, of Sweden's "Hallandsposten," giving it a 4 out of 5 and calling it "[...] a thrilling musical journey" and the Irish Edition's Jamie O'Brien writing, "This is harp in its fullest, harp at its best." Paddy Moloney, of The Chieftains, said, "I got a copy and was just amazed [...] I knew she had tremendous promise."
Neill is influenced by an enormous variety of styles, from Rock to Classical to the Eastern music traditions.
She immersed herself in the Irish tradition at a young age, developing a style from session playing and utilizing the techniques particular to instruments other than her own.
Her interpretations are inspired by her experiences working with artists from many different genres and backgrounds.
From this has emerged a style of playing that is a reflection of her many influences and which continues to evolve.
"...an invigorating debut which hints at both an active imagination coupled with a rock steady compositional hand - worth investigating." - John O'Regan, Irish Music Magazine
"A shared universal sonic gene comes through her fingers as if the music inside her is truly ancestral." - Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, November 2006
"A lot of this album is straight ahead traditional, and it is beautifully played.
There are also points where she almost re-invents the harp and what it can do [...] If you really love harp - and there are millions who do, this would be a must-have addition. This woman can play!" Rating: Four Harps. - Bill Margeson, LiveIreland.com
"[...] this music goes far beyond simply artistry of execution and aesthetics, for it reaches out and entices you into Lily Neill's world [...] I will say with confidence hearing this CD that the possibilities are endless with Lily Neill.
Beyond that words fail." - Art Ketchen, for Celtic Beat |
Lily Neill "Without Words"
Label: Own label; 2004; Playing time: 60:08 min
American harpist Lily Neill has been born in Washington, DC. She took up harp playing at the age of nine and soon mastered the instrument. She guested with The Chieftains (on "The Wide World Over") alongside the late Derek Bell.
She played for President Clinton when she was just 14 of age. Her debut solo album "Without Words" presents traditional Irish and Scottish music on the lever harp.
Airs as well as dance tunes, some are original.
Solo pieces as well as group pieces, welded together with modern and sometimes exotic influences.
Lily's technique leaves you breathless and virtually ... without words. And she only started yet.
Folk World Issue 32 12/2006
http://www.folkworld.de/32/e/cds3.html |
Washington, DC native LilyNeil has paced a lot into her impressive career from appearing with The Chieftains, playing before ex-president Bill Clinton and studying music at the Irish World Music Academy in the University of Limerick in Ireland. Adding to that she is a prodigious composer of tunes with an eclectic taste that crosses from Irish and Scottish musical forms into Classical, Jazz and World music styles.
Her debut album Without Words manages to cover all bases impressively.
Much of the material contained herein is original and, as befits her interest in classical composition, some border on the epic. 'Tantivy' is broken into two parts that are roughly eight minutes in length, while the six minute 'Nach Namshaolta' includes elements of classical, world, and Irish flavours mixing harmoniously, with the latter including the Chinese Jushigngen and Koto which blend eloquently with the harp.
This, along with the pure folk-rock energy in 'The Silver Heart', complete with drums, bass and electric guitar from Zan McLeod, show her versatility.
She can handle traditional music equally well as on 'The Sunflower" with Mr McLeod and bodhran player Jessie Winch adding solid support, or the gorgeous 'Mna na Heireann'. It is delightful to welcome a new talent and one that is brimming with ideas, creative energy and yet has a vice grips-like hold on traditional methods and methodology, while pushing the envelope stylistically.
Without Words is a gorgeous, fascinating and wonderful debut album - it deserves your time.
John O' Regan, Green Man Review
http://www.greenmanreview.com/cd/cd_jor_celtic_omni4_07_06.html |
| Lily Neill' podcasts on internet: |
| SpudShow 153 - Lily Neill Episode |
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Lily Neill in London at the National Theatre... |
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Lily Neill, Live at the Kennedy Center,
October 14, 2005
Lily Neill is a harp player and composer performing the traditional and modern music of Ireland and Scotland as well as her original compositions.
She began playing harp at a young age, winning recognition for her artistic and technical achievements at major competitions, including the All-Ireland.
She also won first place as well as additional honors at the U.S. National Scottish Harp Competition for four consecutive years. Neill guested with the legendary Irish band “The Chieftains” and the late Derek Bell in 2001 & 2002 at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.
At age 14 she played for former U.S. President Bill Clinton and was a featured soloist in the American premiere of John Cameron’s “Missa Celtica.”
Neill has performed on both television and radio in Ireland, Great Britain and the United States on stations such as RTE/TG4, BBC and NPR.
She is currently based in Limerick, Ireland, where she teaches, performs and is pursuing a performance degree at the University of Limerick’s Irish World Music Centre.
“Without Words”, Neill’s first solo album, was released in September 2004 and has garnered an impressive array of reviews since its release.
John O’Regan, of Irish Music Magazine, calls her
“…part of the new Harp revolution extolling aspects of harp music never previously heard” and writes that
“Without Words” “…is one of those said occasions when the compositional mind and the interpretative heart come together in harmony. It is a rare moment where music from the Celtic and Classical traditions is welded with Oriental, Jazz, and Rock influences to produce music that while vaguely familiar, is new, fresh, and exciting.”
Sweden’s “Hallandsposten” calls “Without Words”,
“a thrilling journey across the Irish tradition” and
America’s “Celtic Beat” writes;
“Without Words could only better be entitled Beyond Words. One word for this CD that could be used is exquisite…the possibilities are endless with Lily Neill. Beyond that words fail.” |
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Recent Concert and Festival Appearances
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Appearances Include:
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,
The Concert Hall. Washington, D.C.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,
The Millennium Stage. Washington, D.C.
Festival Interceltique de Lorient. Lorient, Brittany.
George Mason University Concert Hall. Fairfax, VA.
The National Theatre. London, U.K.
The National Building Museum. Washington, D.C.
Strathmore Hall Arts Center. Bethesda, MD.
Glór Irish Music Centre. Clare, Ireland.
Folger Shakespeare Library. Washington, D.C.
O’Malley’s. Helsinki, Finland.
The Potomac Celtic Festival. Leesburg, VA.
US Department of State. Washington, D.C.
Institute of Musical Traditions. Rockville, MD.
Celtic Festival Chicago. Chicago, IL.
The Warehouse Theater. Washington, D.C.
Wolf Trap Theater in the Woods. Vienna, VA.
The K Club. Kildare, Ireland.
Swift Run Concert Series. Fairfax Station, VA.
Washington Folk Festival. Glen Echo, MD.
Kuudes Linja. Helsinki, Finland.
Irish-American Club of Naples. Naples, FL.
Washington Irish Festival. Gaithersburg, MD.
USS Sequoia, former US Presidential Yacht.
The Potomac River, Washington, D.C.
The Hunt Museum. Limerick, Ireland.
The US National Naval Observatory. Washington, D.C.
The Phoenix Park Hotel. For former US President Bill Clinton,
Congressman Richard E. Neal and Senators Kennedy and Mitchell. Washington, D.C. |
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Lily Neill with Claudia Erland, koto, "Magical Montgomery Festival" |
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Stone Ridge School of Sacred Heart
Alumnae Excellence
Harpist Liliana Smigen-Rothkopf x’03, a student at the International Music School in Limerick, Ireland, performed at Stone Ridge on Wednesday, September 6.
Liliana, whose stage name is Lily Neill, explained the relevance of the harp in Irish history and culture to Noreen Murphy’s fourth graders and Denise Murphy’s first graders, gathered in the Large Parlor within Hamilton House.
Lily’s interest in the harp began at a very young age when her Stone Ridge Third Grade teacher, Anne McDonald, gave her a recording of a famous harpist from Ireland.
Recognizing her interest in the instrument, Lily’s parents,
Mr. Henry Rothkopf and Ms. Sheilagh Smigen-Rothkopf, encouraged her through harp lessons, which she began at age eight.
While a student at Stone Ridge, Lily played the harp and piano in the Parlor Concerts and played harp accompaniment for a Lower School Annual Christmas Concert.
Two years ago, she recorded her first CD entitled,
“Without Words.”
Lily just returned from a six-month exchange program at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland and, in February 2007, she will be an Artist-in-Residence at the Music Center at Strathmore.
http://www.stoneridge.org/alumnae/archiveachivements.htm |
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