Irish group Celtic Woman, which consists of four vocalists and a fiddle player, is the brainchild of musical director and composer David Downes.
He assembled the multi-talented women to showcase Celtic music in a contemporary fashion. Some of their tracks are traditional while others can be regarded as standard pop.
Their current album includes traditional Irish melodies, contemporary classics and newly composed work by Downes.
Solo fiddler Mairead Nesbitt says that their first tour has been excellent.
"It's just great. We have been getting standing ovations every night since we've been here and we're simply enjoying every minute of it.
"Our next concert is in Japan later this year."
She says that the audience seem to find it easy to relate to the energy on stage and says that it is an excellent opportunity and privilege for the group to be able to convey emotions to a live audience.
The other Celtic "sisters" are Lisa Kelly, Chloe Agnew, Orla Fallon and Maev Ni Mhaolchatna.
Nesbitt says they are extremely close. Although they spend a lot of time away from their own families, it's much like being on tour with your own sisters.
Downes is the musical director but the women are very much involved in the production of the music.
"We are given a good bit of leeway in what we do. We are always asked for our opinions and I personally am involved in the arrangement, due to my strong background in traditional Irish music.
"It feels good to have your opinion valued and I do like the different levels of involvement."
Nesbitt has been playing the piano since the age of four and the fiddle since she was six and she is a professional violinist.
She has worked on stage and in studio doing arrangements with well-known musicians like Van Morrison, Chris De Burgh and Sinead O' Connor.
"I have written extensively for other musicians and loved working with people like Van Morrison and Nigel Kennedy, but a big priority for us all at the moment is focusing on Celtic Woman.
"I will, however, be recording another solo album soon."
This year the group wish to release another album and maybe one for Christmas as well, says Nesbitt.
"We don't really know what the next album is going to be like - think of it as a surprise," she says.
Although there are no immediate plans to come to South Africa, Nesbitt says she would love to come back.
"I have been a couple of times to Cape Town and Johannesburg with other groups that have performed there, but would love to come back with Celtic Woman."
Published on the web by Tonight on April 12, 2006. © Tonight 2006. All rights reserved.