Declan Killeen Toomey

Verona’s little leprechaun charms on the violin
Submitted by admin on Fri, 03/11/2016 - 12:06am
5-year-old Declan Killeen Toomey showed strong interest in violin music as a baby, started playing at age 3
By: Samantha Christian
Watch a video clip of Declan Killeen Toomey’s St. Patrick’s Day performance at the Madison Kids Expo:



Photo by Samantha Christian. Declan Killeen Toomey, 5, and his mother, Siobhan, embrace after his violin performance March 5 at the Madison Kids Expo. He will be playing more Irish songs at three locations next week for St. Patrick’s Day.

Declan performs a set of Irish songs on violin dressed as a leprechaun at the Madison Kids Expo on Saturday. The Verona resident has been playing violin since he was just 3.
When Declan Killeen Toomey takes the stage – violin slung under his arm and bow at his side – his Irish eyes are smiling.

At 5 1/2 years old, Declan’s age doesn’t stand in the way of his love for music … or his talent.

The Verona native has been playing violin for two-and-a-half years and started performing publicly last summer. He was even chosen as “Best Child Musician” for the Overture Center’s Rising Stars Talent Search contest in the youngest age category, 6-12.

Declan pulls at the heartstrings of a captive audience as he skillfully plays his tiny, one-eighth-size violin.

Whether it’s for a crowd of hundreds or just his parents, Siobhan Killeen Toomey and Tom Toomey, he loves to put on a show.

During the holiday season, Declan dressed as Santa’s reindeer, Rudolph, and played a dozen Christmas tunes for Madison’s airport passengers. Then, last weekend during the Madison Kids Expo, he wore a green leprechaun outfit – complete with top hat and buckled shoes – while performing 15 Irish songs and the national anthem.

Getting into costume is fun for Declan, but he said his favorite part of being on stage is simply “the music.”

Declan goes in phases of the types of music he listens to and plays, including bluegrass and Broadway hits (which he sings to on his karaoke machine at home). Right now, Siobhan said, it’s all about the Irish music.

His family recently went to an Irish pub on Capitol Square to listen to the band West Wind, but Declan had other plans in mind.

“He insisted on bringing his violin ‘just in case,’” Siobhan said in an email to the Press.

Between songs, Declan walked up to the stage, introduced himself to the band and asked if he could play a few tunes on the violin. His favorite was “The Rising of the Moon,” which he learned just days before.

“If you like something, it sticks,” Siobhan said.

After his scheduled St. Patrick’s Day shows, it’s anyone’s guess as to where the little leprechaun and his violin will appear next.

Making a musician

At just 9 weeks old, Declan accompanied his parents on a trip to visit Siobhan’s family in Ireland, and he’s been listening to Irish music ever since.

Siobhan plays harp and Tom plays trumpet, but Declan has always been attracted to the violin. He would gravitate toward pushing the violin sounds on a musical button when he was 11 months old, and when he was 2, he asked for the real thing – every day.

“After a year he wore me down,” Siobhan joked. He’s now on his fourth violin.

Declan is homeschooled, and there is no shortage of activities he likes – including sports, swimming, science, math, maps, cooking and stories. He learned to read music before he read books.

“We hold the philosophy of ‘don't push anything but don't hold him back in anything either. If he's interested, let him explore it,’” Siobhan said in an email to the Press.

When asked who got him involved with music, Declan responded, matter-of-factly, “Me.”

Finding a music instructor when Declan was 3 years old was a challenge at first, since many are leery of teaching kids under 6. But then they found Rin Ribble of Heid Music in Middleton, who Siobhan said was “not only willing to take him, but excited about it.”

She said the instructor’s approach with Declan is not “rigid or cookie-cutter.” Instead, Ribble focuses on what Declan thrives in and then sees what else he can do from there, including aural training.

“Last year, he kind of hit a point where his teacher said he’s doing things that freshmen in college music majors are doing,” Siobhan said. “(Ribble) would turn (Declan’s) face away from her, and she’d play a song and he would play it back to her.”

In summer 2015, Ribble invited Declan to play with her bluegrass band, Sortin’ the Mail, during the Catfish River Music Festival in Stoughton. Since then, he has performed at more than eight different venues.

His parents were shocked when he received a callback for the Overture’s Rising Star auditions, and they were happily surprised when he won the competition in an age group he didn’t quite meet the minimum age requirement for.

Siobhan asked Declan if he was getting burned out or needed a break from performing, but he would respond, “No Mommy, more shows!”

“I think he’s born for this,” his mother said. “I don’t push anything. I just encourage and let him kind of guide what he wants to do.”

Stage presence

Despite his young age, Declan is comfortable on stage – which was evident during his performance at the Madison Kids Expo on Saturday.

Standing alone on the Celebrating Youth Stage at the Alliant Energy Center, he confidently stepped up to the microphone and greeted the crowd.

“I would like to play you a list of Irish tunes my mommy made for me to get you ready for St. Patrick’s Day,” he said.

He elicited chuckles from audience members after introducing each song with a charming short story. The intonation of his voice was as varied as the music that flowed from his violin.

His demeanor turned serious as soon as he took his stance and nestled the violin under his chin. As he tapped his right foot along to the melody, his eyes were fixed in concentration. But he wasn’t staring at sheet music; he knew the notes by heart.

Every so often a sliver of a smile would emerge in the space between his bow and violin, especially when he saw someone approach the stage to leave money in his tip bucket – fashioned like a pot o’ gold with stickers of violins, rainbows and shamrocks.

Before one of the songs, Declan paused to look for his mom in the front row. Seconds later, he continued on without missing a beat in a situation that could have easily flustered players of any age. Siobhan later told the Press that if Declan gets stuck on a song, she’ll just mouth the first three words or notes to him and it triggers his memory.

When he finished playing the set, he took a bow and thanked the crowd. But Declan didn’t relish in the applause.

He was too busy rushing to the back of the stage for a hug and a kiss from his No. 1 fan: his mom.

Upcoming shows

Sunday, March 13
When: 11:45 a.m.
Where: Natural Family Expo main stage, Monona Terrace, One John Nolen Dr., Madison
Info: The performance will be recorded by WORT 89.9 FM and aired on the Pachyderm Parade radio show.

Tuesday, March 15
When: 5:30 p.m.
Where: High Noon Saloon, 701 E. Washington Ave., Madison
Info: Opening for the Irish band, The Pints

Thursday, March 17
When: 5 p.m.
Where: Craftsman Table and Tap, 6712 Frank Lloyd Wright Ave., Middleton
Info: Opening for the Celtic quintet, Tairis - Verona Press

MUST SEE: Tiny violinist wows crowds at Dane County Regional Airport

By Kathryn LarsonCONNECT
Posted: Dec 23, 2015 6:08 PM CST
Updated: Jan 07, 2016 6:08 PM CST



MADISON (WKOW) -- Forget the Little Drummer Boy, today travelers at Dane County Regional Airport were treated to a talented little boy playing his violin.

Declan Killeen-Toomey can play 11 different Christmas songs.

"It makes me really happy," Declan said. At 5 and half (he says that half part is really important), he doesn't play by sheet music.

Dressed up as Rudolph, he plays to his heart's content.

"It makes me want to keep playing for almost all of the day," Declan said.

And several weary travelers have to do a double-take.

"Because I've never seen someone so young play the violin," Bailey Sersland said.

Some passengers traveling through the terminal are astounded when they see him play.

"I thought he was a traveling adult coming to entertain people," New Jersey bound Harriet Worobey said.

"I turned around and it was a little boy, I thought it was a recording!"

Declan's mother doesn't force him to play, she says he enjoys the violin so much he begged his mother at the age of three to start playing. He's now had four custom-made violins. He says he already knows the secret to success.

"I practice really, really hard!"

Declan took home top prize in the 5-12 age group of the 2015 Overture's Rising Star's Talent Search. If you missed him this year, he says he plans to spend next Christmas performing at the Dane County Regional Airport next Christmas. - WKOW channel 27 ABC news

http://www.wortfm.org
go to Audio Archives
scroll down to Sunday, March 13
Pachyderm Parade (he goes on the radio after the a cappella group). - WORT 89.9 FM

MADISON (WKOW) -- Forget the Little Drummer Boy, today travelers at Dane County Regional Airport were treated to a talented little boy playing his violin.

Declan Killeen-Toomey can play 11 different Christmas songs.

"It makes me really happy," Declan said. At 5 and half (he says that half part is really important), he doesn't play by sheet music.

Dressed up as Rudolph, he plays to his heart's content.

"It makes me want to keep playing for almost all of the day," Declan said.

And several weary travelers have to do a double-take.

"Because I've never seen someone so young play the violin," Bailey Sersland said.

Some passengers traveling through the terminal are astounded when they see him play.

"I thought he was a traveling adult coming to entertain people," New Jersey bound Harriet Worobey said.

"I turned around and it was a little boy, I thought it was a recording!"

Declan's mother doesn't force him to play, she says he enjoys the violin so much he begged his mother at the age of three to start playing. He's now had four custom-made violins. He says he already knows the secret to success.

"I practice really, really hard!"

Declan took home top prize in the 5-12 age group of the 2015 Overture's Rising Star's Talent Search. If you missed him this year, he says he plans to spend next Christmas performing at the Dane County Regional Airport next Christmas. - WKOW ABC News 27

MADISON (WKOW) -- Registration is open for this year's Overture's Rising Stars Competition. Anyone ages six and up is welcome to audition to showcase their talents.

The competition can get pretty tough though. Take Declan Killeen Toomey. He was last year's Rising Stars Young Performer's Award winner. At just six-years-old, he plays violin well beyond his years.

"I started when I was three," says Declan.

Declan gives credit to his prized toy, the Mozart Magic Cube, for his inspiration to start playing the violin. "I started asking for a violin... for a whole year," says Declan. "And then finally [my mom] got me one."

Among other shows, Declan is exercising his craft to participate again in Overture's Rising Stars 2016 competition. "I loved the experience of it," Declan says, citing the good friends he made. "If I didn't love it, I wouldn't do it again!"

When asked if he thought he was going to win the competition, he replied, "Well, not 100% positive, but maybe!"

After this competition, Declan's got his sights set big. "I was actually hoping, and I still am, that I can travel the world playing."

His next performance that he would like to invite you all to is at the Mallard's Game on July 26 at 7:05 p.m. He'll be performing the national anthem.

As for this year's Rising Stars competition, auditions are on July 23, August 6 and August 13. You can register on the Overture Center's website. All performing arts talents are welcome. The judging is broken up by age and performance type. - WKOW

The University of Wisconsin volleyball team had a tough act to follow Saturday night.

Declan Killeen Toomey, age 6, brought the sold-out house down with his rendition of the National Anthem on the violin.

“That little guy got our team so fired up,” UW coach Kelly Sheffield said. “I’d like to give a game ball to the little man. He was fantastic.” - Wisconsin State Journal