Seasons

“Seasons is a family band grounded in roots music and this album highlights their impressively distinctive way with an original song.”

Sean Laffey - Irish Music Magazine

"Seasons is traditional Celtic music at its best. Not only are they keeping our traditional music alive but they are doing it on very traditional instruments. It’s not often you find a band made up of young people playing the Celtic harp, hammered dulcimer, fiddle, bodhran and penny whistle among other things! They are an award winning family band that you can’t go wrong with booking. You will not be disappointed by this incredibly talented group.” - Jessy Hamel

"Family group from Harrisburg, PA, the Lee siblings deliver mostly original material mixing elements of Americana, Celtic styles, and folk rock, betimes sounds incredibly String Bandy. Wayward and spindly, yet rooted in strong codes and foundations. Strongly recommended." - Folk Roots Magazine

“Seasons hail from Harrisburg PA, and I’m quite gobsmacked and taken by their very intriguing style…New album ‘Seasons of mostly original compositions is well worth a listen.”-.”-Chris Higgins host of ‘O’er the Moor to Maggie’ on VOA broadcasting out of Charelston WV - ‘O’er the Moor to Maggie’

“Very interesting record! Hints of Celtic, Americana and a bit of Folk Rock in there as well…very interesting album!”

-John O’Regan host of Eclectic Celt Radio out of Limerick, Ireland - Eclectic Celt Radio

“They’re enthusiasts in the most professional sense of the word. A single listen of what they have to offer live or on any of their five albums makes that clear.” –Seamus Bellamy Irish Music Magazine “Up & Coming” Feature - Irish Music Magazine

“Seasons is a family group that is very near and dear to our hearts. They have been playing at our Cafe for about 8 years now and they consistently draw "standing room only" crowds. They are amazing musicians and amazing people. They are not only good enough to play our Cafe, but they are among a rare few local groups that we also play on our radio station, WKBO. In fact we even produced a "Seasons Christmas Special" that we aired and they were the first group to do a live broadcast on the station from the Cafe stage. They really are that good.” - Pete Hamel

“On ‘Seasons’ the group features the impressive songwriting skills of Mary-Kate and Peter Lee while exploring a widening variety of folk styles. With nice solo work and crisp arrangements it’s clear that the Lee siblings are growing up and really coming into their own as musicians!” - Jess Hayden

Let me begin by saying I am not a big fan of Celtic music - mostly because I have habit of falling asleep every time I hear it. It's as if the hammered dulcimer emits a knock out gas.

So it was with some trepidation that I went to the "Celtic Celebrations" event at Trinity High School on Feb. 23 - the musical and dance extravaganza benefiting Hurricane Sandy relief.

I just hoped I wouldn't snore when I nodded off.

I need not have worried.

Seasons, the Celtic Martins and the Rebel Heart Irish Dancers put on a captivating and upbeat performance that ended with an auditorium full of people standing and clapping - quite the achievement.

The auditorium was more than half full for the show, but if one was judging by the sound of the thunderous applause that followed every number it might have been filled twice over.

The show began with a group number - all three performing bands joining together for a pulse pounding rendition of the song "Here Comes the Rain."

Then it was Seasons turn for a solo set. Seasons is made up of the Lee siblings (family Celtic bands was a theme for the evening, with The Celtic Martins also being a family group). The number of Lees on stage changed throughout the performance as ones came in, played an instrument and left or switched instruments midway through.

Mary-Kate Lee has the ideal Celtic folk singing voice - clear, lilting and powerful with just a tinge of Irish brogue every now and again.

The crowd adored the band and eagerly clapped along to most of the numbers.

The Rebel Hearts Irish Dancers featured performers of all ages and abilities - but each dancer appeared to have a genuine smile on their face and their enthusiasm and energy paid off. As some of the dancers leapt they elicited gasps from the audience due to the sheer height they reached. Many high kicks were Rockette worthy.

"Celtic Celebrations" had everything to make Celtic and Gaelic hearts go pitter patter, including bag pipes playing "Amazing Grace" and Irish steppers grooving to a jazzy hip hop number. You can Irish step dance to anything, evidently.

I never thought I would see Irish dancers "break it down," but that they did.

The Celtic Martins must have kissed a musical Blarney Stone, they knew just what to play to win over the crowd and get them clapping and - in the case of one toddler on his grandmother's lap - dancing.

I especially enjoyed the "Call to Dance" song with its heavy drum beat and rich and steady bass line. The fact that halfway through two of the Martin sisters began a step routine only improved things.

During that song, they became an added drum beat, working seamlessly into the song.

Upping the adorable factor of the entire show was Alex Martin, a child who must be no older than 6 who played the violin during the show. It was too cute for words, trust me.

The group's performance was so spectacular that the violin bow hairs had to beg mercy, a few breaking in the process. But that did not stop the Celtic Martins, who made Celtic music rock.

When Peter Lee of Seasons had introduced the show, he called it the first "Celtic Celebrations," one hopes it will not be the last.

Especially since I stayed awake through the whole thing.
- The Patriot-News

Let me begin by saying I am not a big fan of Celtic music - mostly because I have habit of falling asleep every time I hear it. It's as if the hammered dulcimer emits a knock out gas.

So it was with some trepidation that I went to the "Celtic Celebrations" event at Trinity High School on Feb. 23 - the musical and dance extravaganza benefiting Hurricane Sandy relief.

I just hoped I wouldn't snore when I nodded off.

I need not have worried.

Seasons, the Celtic Martins and the Rebel Heart Irish Dancers put on a captivating and upbeat performance that ended with an auditorium full of people standing and clapping - quite the achievement.

The auditorium was more than half full for the show, but if one was judging by the sound of the thunderous applause that followed every number it might have been filled twice over.

The show began with a group number - all three performing bands joining together for a pulse pounding rendition of the song "Here Comes the Rain."

Then it was Seasons turn for a solo set. Seasons is made up of the Lee siblings (family Celtic bands was a theme for the evening, with The Celtic Martins also being a family group). The number of Lees on stage changed throughout the performance as ones came in, played an instrument and left or switched instruments midway through.

Mary-Kate Lee has the ideal Celtic folk singing voice - clear, lilting and powerful with just a tinge of Irish brogue every now and again.

The crowd adored the band and eagerly clapped along to most of the numbers.

The Rebel Hearts Irish Dancers featured performers of all ages and abilities - but each dancer appeared to have a genuine smile on their face and their enthusiasm and energy paid off. As some of the dancers leapt they elicited gasps from the audience due to the sheer height they reached. Many high kicks were Rockette worthy.

"Celtic Celebrations" had everything to make Celtic and Gaelic hearts go pitter patter, including bag pipes playing "Amazing Grace" and Irish steppers grooving to a jazzy hip hop number. You can Irish step dance to anything, evidently.

I never thought I would see Irish dancers "break it down," but that they did.

The Celtic Martins must have kissed a musical Blarney Stone, they knew just what to play to win over the crowd and get them clapping and - in the case of one toddler on his grandmother's lap - dancing.

I especially enjoyed the "Call to Dance" song with its heavy drum beat and rich and steady bass line. The fact that halfway through two of the Martin sisters began a step routine only improved things.

During that song, they became an added drum beat, working seamlessly into the song.

Upping the adorable factor of the entire show was Alex Martin, a child who must be no older than 6 who played the violin during the show. It was too cute for words, trust me.

The group's performance was so spectacular that the violin bow hairs had to beg mercy, a few breaking in the process. But that did not stop the Celtic Martins, who made Celtic music rock.

When Peter Lee of Seasons had introduced the show, he called it the first "Celtic Celebrations," one hopes it will not be the last.

Especially since I stayed awake through the whole thing.
- The Patriot-News

It all began with a concert at Cornerstone Coffeehouse.

Celtic folk band Seasons was scheduled to play the gig the same week Hurricane Sandy devastated New Jersey and New York. As the time of the concert neared, the band members heard tale after tale of the damage from family and friends living in New Jersey.

Driven to do something, the band decided to convert their concert into a benefit. Word of the event spread through Facebook and when the time of the concert came the turnout was way beyond the band's expectations.

"We like ravished the fire code," said Peter Lee, who, along with his siblings, makes up Seasons. "We were just bowled over by people's generosity and willingness to help."

That concert raised $500 for Hurricane Sandy relief, but Lee and his siblings could not help but think of how much more they could raise with more time.

"We've been wanting to do some kind of big show with Rebel Heart Irish Dancers[an Irish dance school] and The Celtic Martins [another Celtic band] for a long time - so it was like let's do something big and let's do it for a great cause," Lee said.
The result is Celtic Celebrations, a music and dance extravaganza at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at Trinity High School's auditorium in Lower Allen Twp. Each of the groups will be performing a solo set before joining up forces for select numbers.

Tickets for the event are $15 in advance, $18 at the door for adults, $10 for students and $5 for children 12 years old and younger. Tickets can be purchased online at celtic-celebrations.weebly.com. All the funds raised from Celtic Celebrations will go to the Red Cross to help with Hurricane Sandy relief.

The Celtic Martins produces a robust, energetic sound with three fiddles, two guitars, a bass and a drum set. In between fiddling, sisters Emily, Melissa and Christy perform Irish step dance routines.

The majority of the dancing during Celtic Celebrations will be courtesy of the Rebel Heart Irish Dancers, which, though based in central Pennsylvania, tour across the United States with their intricate choreography.

For traditional Celtic music fare fans, Seasons will be a favorite. The band incorporates traditional Celtic instruments (including the Celtic Harp and Hammered Dulcimer) in their music, which transports one to the Emerald Isle as soon as the first note is struck.

But the best part of the show will be when all three groups join forces.

"You'll have Irish dancing with live music and you don't get that a lot," Lee said. "It's going to be the real deal with 30 dancers on stage and 14 musicians."

"It'll be Celtic madness."

The goal is to provide something for everyone - in addition to being a grandiose event.

A statement on the event's Facebook page reveals its ambition: "We want to create the sort of spectacle that would make Michael Flatly blush."

The fact that the money goes to help those in need only sweetens the deal.

DETAILS: 7 p.m. Feb. 23 at the auditorium of Trinity High School, 3601 Simpson Ferry Road, Lower Allen Twp. Cost: $15 in advance, $18 at the door for adults. $10 students. $5 children (12 and under). celtic-celebrations.weebly.com.
- The Patriot-News

Tragedy doesn’t end just because it is no longer in the news.
The emotional pain of losing your home and having no idea of how to rebuild, where to rebuild or when you can rebuild is the constant reminder that not more than four months ago, Hurricane Sandy made parts of New Jersey and New York look like war zones.
“As Americans, we watch war zones on television. We never expect to have a third world country right in our neighborhood,” said Mary Kate Lee, parishioner of Our Lady’s of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Harrisburg and a member of her siblings’ Celtic group, Seasons.
She was referring to hearing about a fellow musician’s experience from Hurricane Sandy. Power was lost in every home expect hers, trees had fallen, one even killing the parents of two children. Her home was being used as a sort of refuge; she had power and welcomed the neighbors in. Ms. Lee knew after she hung up the phone with her friend that she wanted to do more than offer prayers. She wanted to do something to help financially.
Seasons decided that weekend at their intimate coffee shop show that they would directly donate all proceeds collected to their friend in need and her community. “It felt good and we were really impressed with people’s generosity. We really had only advertised the benefit on Facebook and it was a small venue, holding maybe 60 people, but we still collected $500,” explained Peter Lee. After this they thought they might be able to make a collaboration of artists and hold a special benefit performance.
He continued to explain how for a long time they had been wanting to collaborate with Stephanie Oscilowski, a parishioner of Saint Catherine Laboure Parish in Harrisburg and founder of Rebel Heart Irish Dancers, a community dance troop that includes members of the Oscilowski family. Ms. Oscilowski was moved at the idea of a benefit performance for the hurricane victims, especially because she had an immediate family member severely affected by Hurricane Sandy. Her cousin lost his home.
Seasons and Rebel Heart Irish Dancers also teamed up with The Celtic Martins, a family band with the same positive family appreciation as the other groups. The Celtic Martins include their family of eight, each varying in the talent they lend to the group. Three of the daughters play fiddle and dance, there is bag pipe, a kit drum with a Celtic edge, and the list continues. “We’ve all traveled in the same circles [musically],” said Mr. Lee, “and we all dream big.” So they invited The Celtic Martins to participate in a benefit for Hurricane Sandy victims.
The three groups will come together on February 23, at 7 p.m. at Trinity High School in Camp Hill to perform Celtic Celebrations: A Benefit Performance for Sandy Relief. One hundred percent of all tickets sales will be donated to the American Red Cross. There will be original music from each group and a sneak preview of two dances from a future show in March and May from the Rebel Heart Irish Dancers. Seasons is excited to play “Here Comes the Rain,” a song written and inspired by the effects of Hurricane Sandy. The lyrics talk about how you can lose your house but not your home, that you will never lose your faith or love for each other, because these are the things a person can never lose.
“I know this sounds cliché, but this will truly be an event the entire family can enjoy,” explained Mr. Lee. “There is an appeal across the board.”
Ms. Lee explained that, as Catholics, we are called to help our neighbors. It is most essential to love and reach out and to give tangible signs, and that is what the groups hope the show can fulfill.
Local stores like Giant and Weis Markets have donated concessions, and Trinity High School has been generous with their auditorium. The show will be full of dance, pipes, harps and the Celtic traditions that so many people love. “It’s a great show for an introduction to Celtic music, you will get it all,” said Ms. Lee.
For more information on the groups, and for tickets, visit www.celtic-celebrations.weebly.com. The webpage will also direct visitors to their facebook page. The groups encourage people to ‘Like’ the page to find more promotional pictures and updates.
By Emily M. Albert
The Catholic Witness - The Catholic Witness

I’ve always been a fan of Irish music—Celtic music in general. The catchy tunes, the fiddle (which I play), the rhythms, the haunting lyrics and melodies all conspire to transport me back to my ancestral roots. Coming from an Irish-German family, music was always in the air—and I am a sucker for a reel and a jig. The new CD by Seasons, Which Way to Dublin Town hits the spot for the flavor and the feel of true Irish music. This is a trio of young sibling musicians: Mary-Kate Summer Lee on harp and hammered dulcimer, Mary-Teresa Summer Lee on harp, mandolin and percussion, and Peter Winter Lee on hammered dulcimer. They also have several great guest musicians to round out the ensemble. This second CD of theirs features mostly traditional Irish songs arranged in unique ways with non-traditional instrumentation—mixed in with a few American tunes done with an Irish flair, a Scottish tune, and two original songs written by Mary-Kate. This collection of songs is a good combination of evocative heart-wrenchingly tender songs and rollicking Irish favorites. There are seventeen tracks on this album, more than enough to keep you thinking, singing along and toe-tapping. It’s obvious these young artists have a love for God and the saints, and their faith spills over into their choice of songs for this unique collection.

Their arrangements include merging two tunes together, as in their Drowsy Maggie/Johnny’s Gone to France and Red Is the Rose/Down by the Salley Gardens, as well as Foxhunter’s Jig/Morrison’s Jig, are unique for Irish music. Since many traditional tunes have repetitive melodies, this concept of creating a medley adds variety, length and spice to those tracks. Just when you think you’ve learned the tune—it goes off in a different direction as the medley shifts from one tune to the next. It’s lots of fun to listen to, and keeps your ears on alert.

If I singled out every track, this review would be much longer than the space provided, but I did want to mention a few: the first track—78 Eatonwood Green is a Rich Mullins song that the trio is proud to present, since the reason they became interested in the hammer dulcimer was because of Rich. Ashokan Farewell is done beautifully on the hammer dulcimer—one of my favorite songs in the world, and their arrangement does it justice. The dulcimer work throughout this CD is just gorgeous, as is all the musicianship. I enjoyed the vocals as well. All the voices have captured that pure Irish quality with the slight ornamentation that Celtic singers possess—even though the singers on this CD are American. Mary-Kate’s two original songs are quite effective, Dalriada and The Helmsman both show a strong songwriting ability that I hope continues. The guest musicians included the very talented Martin Doman on guitar and Irish whistle, equally talented Tess Smith and Rebekah Callaghan on fiddle, Jim Dunbar on Irish whistle, Ezra March on mandolin.

If I missed one aspect of Irish music while listening, it would be for the bodhran, the Irish drum. I found after a while, I longed for some bass response, since most of the arrangements were comprised of higher pitched instruments, and some of the songs could have had more gravitas with the anchoring of a bass or low pitched drum. But this is a small concern, and perhaps my personal taste for this kind of music. The CD gives you such a feeling of peace, joy and wonder at their energy and musicianship—you’ll be humming Seasons’ tunes long after you’ve turned off your player. Their website is: SeasonsMusic.com. However, when I visited, I didn’t get much information. I hope they begin to expand their site to give visitors some background on the group and updates. - Grapevine

Which Way to Dublin Town (independent)

Three young siblings make up this Ohio band, whose worshipful tunes blend a healthy serving of Celtic with a touch of bluegrass. Anchored by two harps and a hammered dulcimer, and sprinkled with mandolin, fiddle, and Irish flute, Seasons brings a lovely mix of instrumental (ranging from sprightly jigs to contemplative lullabies) and vocal arrangements to these 17 outstanding tracks. (More at SeasonsMusic.net.) - Christianity Today

Moving from the Western shore to the East, the Seasons, a sibling trio consisting of Mary Kate Spring Lee ( Harp/Hammered Dulcimer), Mary Teresa Summer Lee (Harp/ Mandolin/ Percussion) and Peter Winter Lee ( Hammered Dulcimer), will delight your family with the sparkling, bell-like quality of their very unique interpretation of Celtic dance music and songs. Seasons are a very young homeschooled group. Mary Kate and Peter attend Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. On their CD Which Way To Dublin Town (The link gives you some music samples), they team up with a number of musician friends to present traditional Irish jigs and songs along with original ballads composed by Mary Kate. The intricate sound of the Seasons' two hammered dulcimers plus harp gives their music the freshness and complexity of a running brook which is perfectly complemented by the clear harmonies of singers Clare, Hannah and Mary Callaghan. Mary Kate's Dalriada is a perfect Saint Patrick's Day song, telling the story of the saint's captivity in Ireland and ending with the words of the famous Saint Patrick's Breastplate:

"Christ before me

Christ beside me

Christ beneath

Christ above me

Christ all around me

Christ where it's too dark to see

Christ be within me

Upholding my soul." - Philadelphia Examiner

It’s true that alumni of The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards come from all creative walks of life – we’ve got painters, writers, photographers, poets, video game designers, journalists, teachers and even a handful of lawyers and scientists. But if there’s one question we commonly hear, it’s: “I won an Award! What do I do now?”

For Mary-Kate Lee and three of her Scholastic Award-winning brothers and sisters, the answer was simple: start a Celtic folk band. Bands as diverse as the Allman Brothers, Beach Boys, the Kinks, the Pointer Sisters, Hanson, Radiohead, Van Halen and the Jackson 5 all hail from sibling roots, and musical families have been the subject of TV shows and movies. But Seasons enters the scene as the first sibling band we’ve heard of composed entirely of Scholastic Award winners.

The group was started almost five years ago by Lee siblings Peter Winter, Mary-Teresa, Mary Kate and Mary-Grace, who perform for churches, weddings, coffeehouses and even the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire and Appalachian Brewing Company. Music includes vocals, harp, hammered dulcimer, the mandolin, percussions and the penny whistle. The group has released two albums (Eventide Lullaby and Which Way to Dublin Town) and are hard at work composing original music for their third. Both albums have sold internationally and been reviewed by national publications. In addition to performing their own music, they’ve also been known to play selections from Lord of the Rings, Cold Play, Johnny Cash and Bach.


When Mary-Kate Lee isn’t writing new songs or performing, she still spends a good deal of time writing. She reports that in addition to working on a collection of short stories, she has her first novel in the works, and she recently won a writing competition that landed her short short story, Berceuse, in Central Pennsylvania Magazine. She reports: “I can say, as a professional musician and writer, that my life’s course would not be the same without my experience in Scholastic Art & Writing Competition. What a boost in confidence, and a thrill to have my hard work recognized.”

Mary-Kate continues to balance her musical life with her writing. For her, the question isn’t “what can I do now?” but “what can’t I do?” Whether it’s a novel or a Celtic band, the possibilities are endless.

See Seasons’ cover of Coldplay’s Clocks – with two djembe accompanists - here.
- The Alliance for Young Artist and Writers

The sounds of the season come to the Hillsborough Public Library Thursday, when musical group Seasons performs at 7 p.m.

Seasons is comprised of Mary-Kate Spring, Peter Winter, Mary-Teresa Summer, Mary-Grace Autumn, and Mary-Clare Chun Lee. With a sound based mainly around the Celtic Harp and the Hammered Dulcimer, but also bringing in instruments as diverse as the violin, mandolin, bodrhan, penny whistle, guitar and piano, Seasons creates an exciting and surprising fusion of Celtic, folk, original, and popular music, resulting in a sound that is truly unique. Their varied musical tastes and interests often lead them where no harp and hammered dulcimer quartet has gone before.

Seasons has recorded two CDs, "Eventide Lullaby" (2006) and "Which Way to Dublin Town" (2009), and also collaborated with Mary-Kate on her solo album "Mirabilis" (2010). The albums have received national recognition in publications such as Musicmaker's Magazine, Christianity Today, and Grapevine Online, and also have been played on the radio. Seasons has performed both on local and national television, including ABC 27's Out and About with Chuck Rhodes and EWTN's show Life on the Rock and Dana and Friends, and, most recently, an appearence on CBS's The Early Show on Dec. 1st.

Seasons has played numerous venues in the midstate, including the Harrisburg Artsfest, The 2nd Floor Gallery, Appalachian Brewing Company, Market Street Presbyterian and the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, and also has shared their music in multiple states and countries. Seasons has had the opportunity to open for many talented musicians, including three-time Grammy winner Ashley Cleveland and the nationally-acclaimed Celtic rock band Scythian. - Hillsborough Patch