Smith Center for the Arts

GENEVA, NY – The Smith Center for the Arts will present Elieen Ivers’ “A Joyful Christmas,” on December 3rd at 8:00pm. A celebrated guest violin soloist with over 50 Symphony Orchestras, Eileen Ivers’ also shreds electric fiddle through fuzz, wah-wah and looping effects. She has been called “the future of the Celtic Fiddle” by the Washington Post, and “the Jimi Hendrix of the violin” by the New York Times. For “A Joyful Christmas” this Bronx born, yet 9-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, will put her own eclectic spirit into this show of holiday cheer. Family-friendly and full of Christmas favorites, tickets to “A Joyful Christmas” may be purchased here.

Joining Ivers for her upcoming performance at The Smith, Eileen’s new, energetic and joyous band, Universal Roots, connect the music, cultures, stories and emotions that tie us all together. The ensemble, with a broad array of instrumentation, features Matt Mancuso (lead vocals, guitar, trumpet, fiddle), Buddy Connolly (button accordion, whistles, piano, vocals), Lindsey Horner (upright and electric bass, baritone sax, vocals), Dave Barckow (lead vocals, percussion, guitar), together with Eileen on fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bodhran, and live looping. Audience members can expect to witness the vivacious energy that Ivers’ brings to all of her performances, as she creates a musical dialogue between herself, her band, and the audience.

Eileen and her ensemble have headlined prestigious performing arts centers, guest starred with numerous symphonies, performed at major festivals worldwide, and appeared on national and international television. The L.A. Times proclaimed, “Ivers’ presentation was music with the kind of life and spirit that come together when talented artists from different backgrounds find the linkages that connect all forms of music…no wonder the audience loved every minute.”

Ivers’ has recorded over 80 contemporary and traditional albums and contributed to numerous movie scores. Hailed as one of the great innovators and pioneers in the Celtic and World music genres, fiddle tunes from all cultures are combined and spoken as one fluent language in the hands of this talented virtuoso.

The Smith wants us all to be able to gather safely this holiday season. All patrons over 12 years of age at films or live performances at the Smith Opera House scheduled through Dec. 31, 2021 are required to wear a mask AND show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test. Children younger than 12 years are required to wear a mask. Depending on the nature of the show, patrons may be allowed to remove their mask once seated in the theatre.

To learn more about events offered by The Smith Center for the Arts visit thesmith.org, or visit or call our box office for phone and in-person sales, 10am-4pm, Tuesday-Friday.

The Smith Center for the Arts, stewards of the historic Smith Opera House, provides diverse arts and educational enrichment opportunities year-round for Finger Lakes residents and visitors. The Smith Opera House is at 82 Seneca St. in Geneva, NY. Please email boxoffice@thesmith.org or call (315) 781-5483. For more information visit www.thesmith.org.
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