Help Máiréad Bring Matthias Back to Life

Hi, I'm Máiréad Nesbitt. You probably know me as violinist / fiddler with such shows as Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, Celtic Woman, Rocktopia, Harmonious Live to name a few! Your ears would also recognize the beautiful signature sound of my Matthias Albani violin on all the recordings and live shows!

Matthias Albani was a famous violin maker and a major influence on Antonio Stradivari, the maker of the world famous Stradivarius violins.

My Matthias violin first came to me first as a child when I was playing violins to "open up" and improve their sound before they got sold on by a violin dealer friend of my family. It was how I got to play beautiful violins while not having one myself at the time.

And then came Matthias! I fell in love instantly and was dreading the moment I would have to part with it and for Matthias to be sold on.

Then magic struck! My parents and violin dealer friend told me that I could have Matthias! It was like a gift from the heavens and I will never forget our violin dealer friend and my dear parents for doing that for me! Matthias has never left my side and has been my partner on stage and off ever since....until now.

Matthias is in extreme need of restoration after a stretch of time in a super humid environment rendering it completely unplayable. The fingerboard came off during the last number of a concert and the sound post inside Matthias came down.

I'm heartbroken that this has happened on my watch especially as I am known for always being so careful with my violin at all times. Unfortunately, as careful as I am, I cannot completely control the effects of extreme climate or humidity of certain places.

My goal is to raise the money myself to bring my 345 year old Matthias violin back to it's former glory. I have started already and if Matthias has touched your life in listening to the music we played on together and if you feel you would like to be involved, in a small or not so small way, do donate, or simply share the link!

People are always so supportive of me, loving my free live weekly online show Máiréad Mondays as my way to uplift people especially during the pandemic. This inspired me to start a series of free tik tok intimate concerts to help restore Matthias! Do tune in to my tik tok when you can at @maireadcelticviolinist to hear your favorite tunes for free!

Matthias is already checked in to an amazing luthier in Dublin, Ireland from mid December to receive essential TLC and I will upload progress photos on the restoration journey.

I am playing on an excellent violin from my violin line at the moment for the upcoming months. It's very different of course, as Matthias is an antique and my lifelong musical buddy, but I consider myself lucky to still be able to play for people.

As a sincere thank you, I will be sending a signed card and a curated, personalized package from my website to everyone who has supported the restoration of Matthias!

People have asked me what I would like for the holidays and Christmas. I always say, nothing at all, just be well and safe! So maybe now, as we are playing concerts and uplifting as many people as possible, it would be so amazing if you would share my link, maybe donate and be involved in bringing Matthias back to life and back to the stage!

To me, that would be the best Christmas gift ever!