Tara McNeill

Tara McNeill (pronounced TAR-a) is an Irish violinist, harpist, and soprano singer from Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Early life and career McNeill comes from a family that is musically inclined. All her siblings play musical instruments. At St. Joseph's Primary School in Antrim, McNeill showed potential as a musician. McNeill took to singing at a young age. By age 7, she was learning to play piano and by age 8, she was playing the violin.

McNeill was part of the junior and senior Ulster / North Eastern Education and Library Board (NEELB) Youth Orchestra, performing with them for 7 years and leading the senior orchestra at the age of 17.

She was selected as Head Girl in St. Louis Grammar School, Ballymena in 2008–2009.

In April 2013, McNeill performed the Irish premiere of Finzi's Violin Concerto in the National Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland. McNeill joined Mairead Carlin as one of the only two principal performers of Celtic Woman to come from Northern Ireland so far.

On 15 August 2016, McNeill began recording in the studio for Celtic Woman. McNeill's first live concert with Celtic Woman was on 16 September 2016, in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her first album as an official member of Celtic Woman was Celtic Woman: Voices of Angels.

Other career highlights McNeill has toured in many countries and has performed with well-known artists such as Barry Douglas, Bono, Il Divo, Julie Feeney, Josh Groban, and Damien Rice. She has performed at prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, the Oriental Arts Center, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts.

Personal life McNeill married American pianist Alexander "Alex" Bernstein in January 2018.

Discography With Celtic Woman Celtic Woman: Voices of Angels (2016) Celtic Woman: The Best of Christmas (2017) Celtic Woman: Homecoming Live from Ireland (2018) Celtic Woman: Ancient Land (2018) Celtic Woman: The Magic of Christmas (2019) Celtic Woman: Celebration-15 Years of Music and Magic (2020) Celtic Woman: Postcards from Ireland (2021) Celtic Woman: Christmas Cards From Ireland (2022) Celtic Woman: 20 (2024)

Solo Across the Atlantic (2023)

Awards Leo Gibney Award for Chamber Music (RIAM) 2009: Ballymena Music Festival's prestigious Young Instrumentalist Award 2010: Holywood Music Festival's Sinfonietta Cup 2010: Holywood Music Festival's d’Arcy Cup and Award 2012: George & Angela Moore Flax Trust Classics Audience Award