Máiréad Nesbitt

• Name — Máiréad Nesbitt • Birthplace — Loughmore, County Tipperary, Ireland • Years Active — 1996–present • Instrument — * Fiddle • violin • piano • Genre — * Celtic • classical • Occupation — Musician • Label — * Vertical • Manhattan • Associated Acts — * Celtic Woman • Coolfin • Website — http: www.maireadnesbittviolin.com

Nesbitt was born to John and Kathleen Nesbitt, both music teachers in County Tipperary, Ireland. She has a sister, Frances, and four brothers, Seán, Michael, Noel and Karl, all of whom are musicians. She has been a piano player since the age of four, and began playing the violin at age six. Her formal musical studies began at The Ursuline Convent in Thurles, County Tipperary and progressed through the Waterford Institute of Technology and the Cork School of Music, during which time she participated in the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland. Nesbitt completed postgraduate studies at Royal Academy of Music and Trinity College of Music in London under Emanuel Hurwitz. Besides her family, Nesbitt has stated that her influences range from Itzhak Perlman and Michael Coleman to bluegrass artist Alison Krauss and rock's David Bowie and Sting.

Nesbitt has been married to Jim Mustapha Jr., Celtic Woman's then-lighting director, since 2011.

• Lord of the Dance (November 1999) • Celtic Woman (March 2005) • Celtic Woman: A New Journey (January 2007) • Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration (October 2007) • Celtic Woman: The Greatest Journey (October 2008) • Celtic Woman: Songs from the Heart (January 2010) • Celtic Woman: Believe (January 2012) • Celtic Woman: Home for Christmas (October 2013) • Celtic Woman: Emerald - Musical Gems (February 2014) • Celtic Woman: Destiny (October 2015)