Celtic Echoes Band
Celtic Echoes Band is a versatile ensemble bringing together the synergy of classical, folk, rock, sacred, and traditional Irish backgrounds.
Kathleen Hartshorne: harp/vocals; Jim Moore - guitar/vocals; Tim Brittain – violin;
Diane Wilson – flute;
Michael Ballard – bones/bodhran
Originally classically trained, each found their way to the mystical and haunting music of the ancient Celts. They have played most of their lives in the San Diego area, both individually and as an ensemble, with such bands as Celtic Echoes, The Celtic Ensemble, Silverwood, and The Lemon Squeezers. The synergy of their respective musical backgrounds creates an energetic musical experience that bridges many boundaries. For bookings call Kathleen at 619 522-0543.
Choose Celtic Echoes to enhance your next event: private functions, concert series, international festivals, weddings, church services, special events, holiday parties, corporate events, and community events.
We are equally happy providing appropriate background music as we are commanding the stage with exciting music, songs, stories, and even dance! We have full sound system capabilities and specialize in providing music at an appropriate level.
We are available solo, duo, trio, or any size of ensemble needed. Celtic Echoes is happy to meet your every musical need with special requests to accompany choirs, orchestras, or soloists; provide special music for churches or community concerts; provide exacting dance music for ceili or feis dancers; or even provide a ceili instructor to teach your guests to dance!
Highlights of our performances in the last few years include: Harrah’s Casino St. Patrick’s Day celebration, St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church Concert Series, Congregational Church La Jolla Concert Series, Serra Mesa Library Concert Series, Coronado Library Concert Series, Write Out Loud events including Twain Fest at Old Town Park, Voices of Christmas at Cygnet Theater, Voices of Ireland at Lambs Players Theatre, Athenaeum Music and Arts Library La Jolla, SD Tribune Festival of Books at Liberty Station, San Diego Repertory Theater- Outside Mullingar - Pre-Show, Liberty station Art Walk, La Jolla Playhouse - Come From Away - Welcome Band, Various events at UCSD, as well as a plethora of weddings, receptions, memorials, private events, and church services. Also, we join into community music such as Gut Bucket Band, Twiggs Coffee Shop Sessiun, Sam Hinton Festival, and any other place a fiddle or guitar is likely to be playing!
Kathleen Hartshorne – Harp: Kathleen performs the beautiful and haunting music of ancient and contemporary Ireland singing and playing on her Irish Lever Harp. Originally a classical musician who attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and sang with the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra Festival Choir, she fell in love with the Irish lever folk harp during a trip to Ireland.. She then spent several summers traveling all over Ireland playing and studying the harp, studying ancient sean nós singing, and the Irish language. Kathleen performs locally leading Celtic Echoes, and playing with Silverwood and Celtic Ensemble. She also tours the US and Ireland, and teaches voice, piano, and harp.
Jim Moore – guitar: Jim Moore has spent his entire adult life singing and performing music in many San Diego area nightclubs, restaurants and hotels. He spent 20 years entertaining at the Grand Canyon South Rim Village, as well as performing at other resorts in California. Jim holds a degree in music which launched a second career teaching guitar, dobro, and bass. At the present time Jim performs with Celtic Echoes Band, Silverwood, Celtic Ensemble, Gut Bucket Band, Cornsilk Band, and Lemon Squeezers classic rock band.
Tim Brittain – violin/fiddle: a graphic designer by profession, Tim was a member of The Celtic Ensemble for nearly two decades (and four albums). Although classical music has been his main interest, he has found the richness and joy of Celtic Music (which stretches from India to the western shores of the USA) a new challenge and a pleasure. He currently plays with Celtic Echoes, Silverwood, and has worked musically with Kathleen for many years, performing on her album, Ancient Echoes.
Diane Wilson – flute: principle flutist and a featured soloist of the San Diego Concert Band. She has also performed with several orchestras, including the La Jolla Civic Orchestra and the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra. She studied under San Diego Symphony’s principal flutist Damian Bursill-Hall, and also under Judith Bentley, student of the late William Kincaid. Diane is a private flute instructor for students of all ages. She also leads the versatile Silverwood Music Ensemble.
Michael Ballard – bodhran: Michael studied ballet, tap, ballroom, disco, and international folk dancing including Irish and Scottish dance. He studied violin and sang in church choirs. He got “shanghaied” into the Renaissance Faires with Clan MacColin where he learned to play bones and bodhran. He’s been dancing and/or playing in their dance shows for more than 30 years. He discovered the Summer Solstice Music Festival where he taught bones and bodhran since 1987. While there he learned a bit of clave, doumbek, and djembe!!! He is welcomed into many local sessiuns and has played with Silverwood, Celtic Echoes, Kitchen Fire, and the Shamrockers and many others through the years.
Additional musicians who have joined Celtic Echoes from time to time:
Bob Sandstrom - fiddle
Elaine Thompson - flute
Masato Nishimura (Nishi) - fiddle
Michael Eskin - Uilleann Pipes, Tenor Banjo, Octave Mandolin, Pennywhistle, Irish Flute, Drop-D Guitar backup, Hammer Dulcimer, and most recently, Anglo Concertina
George Rubsamen – guitar, fiddle, mandolin, concertina, vocals
Dave Page – drums, percussion
Pride of Erin Ceili Dancers