A fiddle player since the age of 6, Máiréad comes from a musical family. She cites such diverse influences as classical violinist Itzakh Pearlman, Irish Fiddlers Liz Carroll, Michael Coleman and Andy McGann, Jazz musician Stephane Grappelli, Country player Alison Krause and rock performers David Bowie, Sting, U2 and Bjork. A former All-Ireland fiddle champion, Máiréad began formal training in music at the Ursuline Convent in Thurles, and continued at The Waterford Institute of Technology, the Cork School of Music under Cornelia Zanidache and at the London Royal Academy, London Trinity College, with post graduate studies under Emanuel Hurwitz on violin and piano. She is also a past member of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland.

In the 1990's Máiréad was the lead fiddle player in the internationally acclaimed Riverdance show - and has most recently been a member of the Celtic Woman touring ensemble in 2005. She has been a highly sought-after session player all over Europe.

This track is from her 2001 solo recrding entitled Raining Up.

www.maireadnesbitt.com