Sephira – violin virtuoso sisters

Sephira are a classical crossover band comprising of sisters Ruth and Joyce O’Leary. Both are accomplished singers and violinists.

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The sisters play powerful music with stirring melodies and their energetic performances and harmonies have earned them international recognition.

They have an almost psychic connection that only siblings who have played music together since childhood could have. Ruth says that playing the violin comes as naturally as speaking while Ruth added: “It’s just like an extension of our bodies.”

Sephira
Sephira

They have performed with several stars throughout their career including Westlife, Andrea Corr, Kanye West, Michael Bublé, Celtic Thunder and Gilbert O’Sullivan.

Performing at the National Concert Hall at just three-years-old

The duo come from Carrickmacross, a town half way between Dublin and Belfast, and have played the violin since they were young children. Joyce performed at the National Concert Hall in Dublin when she was just three years old.

“When you experience Sephira, you are instantly reminded that these girls are not delicate dainty creatures, they are two very talented and powerful women with fire in their souls” – Larry Hagman

Ruth studied Music Performance at the Guildhall School of Music in London before heading to Dublin to complete her studies, gaining a first class honours degree in Music Performance.

In 2006, they released their debut album, Believe. It featured 11 original tracks and a cover of If by David Gates.

Playing in prestigious venues

They went on tour in Ireland and also supported several artists, playing in prestigious venues such as the Olympia Theatre in Dublin, The Cork Opera House, and the Millennium Forum in Derry and the INEC in Killarney.

Final-version

They have made several television appearances in Ireland and in 2007, they featured on the BBC’s coverage of the Celtic Connections festival where they supported Clannad in Glasgow.

Later that year, they performed four huge concerts with hip hop star Kanye West.

Touring with Celtic Thunder

In 2008, Sephira headed to North America where they toured the US and Canada with Celtic Thunder. They were part of the Celtic Thunder show for two years before they embarked on their own headline North American tour in 2010. They featured on a PBS TV special titled Beyond Celtic.

In 2011 they became ambassadors for Ireland and toured with Irish Tourism across the West Coast of America. The sisters released a Christmas album in November 2011 and at the end of the year they appeared in Michael Londra’s show, Celtic Yuletide.

 

Sephira
Sephira videos
Bands main page