The New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO) Pops wants to transform Connecticut into the Emerald Isle for St. Patrick’s Day weekend, with two St. Patrick’s Pops performances on Saturday, March 17 at 2:30 p.m. at Hamden Middle School, 2623 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, and Sunday, March 18 at 3 p.m. at Shelton High School, 120 Meadow Street, Shelton. NHSO Pops Conductor Chelsea Tipton will lead the program and the orchestra will be joined by Irish singer and YouTube sensation Cathy Maguire and dancers from the Brennan-Lucey Irish Dance Academy.

This program of Irish and Irish-American favorites will include music from The Quiet Man and Far and Away, “Danny Boy,” “Molly Malone,” “When Irish Eyes are Smiling,” Leroy Anderson’s Irish Suite, “Lady of Knock,” “Haste to the Wedding,” John Phillip Sousa’s “Irish Dragoon,” “Peter Street,” and “The Old Maid in the Garrett.” Audience members will join in the music-making with an Irish sing-along and are encouraged to enter their homemade loaves into an Irish soda bread contest.

An accomplished singer and performer, Maguire began her career as a successful child star in Ireland. Her TV show, Ireland In Song, was featured on PBS; in each episode she traveled to Ireland to visit the birthplace of the most famous Irish songs featured on her album Ireland In Song. Maguire has toured extensively and has opened for internationally known artists such as Martina McBride, Randy Travis, and the High Kings. She is a favorite performer of Cardinal Dolan in New York City and became a YouTube sensation for her 2017 performance of “Lady of Knock” at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

With three locations in Connecticut, the Brennan-Lucey Irish Dance Academy was founded by Irish dance world champion Stephen Brennan and national champion Meghan Lucey, who met while on tour with Riverdance in 2007.

Audience members are invited to grab a pint with Maestro Chelsea Tipton after the Sunday, March 18 performance at The Pub on Howe in Shelton. The pub will be offering its daily Irish offerings, including Irish egg rolls, twist and stout pretzels, Guinness French onion soup, and corned beef reubens. Interested parties should RSVP on the NHSO website, where they can also purchase a $15 coupon that can be used towards $20 of food or drink at the event.

Adult tickets range in price from $35 to $49. College student tickets are $10 and KidTix (under 18) are free with the purchase of an adult ticket. Blue Star tickets for active military personnel and their immediate family are free. For tickets, call 203-865-0831 ext. 20 or visit www.NewHavenSymphony.org.