Celtic Spirit at St. James Westminster Church on Saturday, May 30, 2026, in London Ontario.
The Canadian Celtic Choir, a registered non-profit organization, was founded in 1996 to promote Celtic choral music and culture. The choir’s repertoire ranges from traditional to contemporary music, drawing primarily from Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, and the Atlantic Provinces. Over the years, the choir has performed internationally in Hawaii, Scotland, and England. Canadian highlights have included performing the National Anthem at the Citizenship Ceremonies at Pier 21 on Canada Day in 2017, as well as five performances during its 2025 tour of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The choir’s most recent CD, Winter – Songs of the Season (2025), is available for purchase at performances for $10. More information can be found through the choir’s YouTube channel, Facebook page, and official website: www.celticchoir.ca.
Special guest group Celtic Shift performs Irish and Scottish traditional tunes with modern twists inspired by jazz, rock, and pop styles. The band features Stephen Holowitz (keyboards), Amy Barten (fiddle), and Dave Nuttall (whistles). A trumpeter experienced in classical, salsa, and jazz styles, Dave Nuttall discovered another musical voice through the pennywhistle, which has opened many new opportunities for performance. Since moving to Nova Scotia, he has joined an Acadian concert band and has also performed solo at a local resort.
Amy Barten is a London-based Suzuki Violin and Early Childhood Education teacher, as well as the owner of Amy’s Violin School. Stephen Holowitz serves as accompanist for the Canadian Celtic Choir and is involved in a wide variety of musical projects throughout the London area. Celtic Shift is pleased to be part of the Canadian Celtic Choir’s Celtic Spirit concert.
