Music

Music is the soul of a dance show. Before you can create a sensational show, you need sensational music—and Celtic Throne has some of greatest Irish dance music on Earth. This is because our score was written by Brian Byrne, the Golden Globe-nominated, award-winning Hollywood composer and producer, and, an Irishman!

Byrne’s score is a tour de force of cinematic sounds merged with the uplifting and infectious rhythms and melodies of universally-loved Irish music!

Brian Byrne
Composer

Golden Globe-nominated composer Brian Byrne is a multi-award-winning composer and producer. Born and raised in Ireland, Brian was educated at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He graduated in 1997 with first-class honors in music and was awarded The Peter Knox Memorial Award for overall performance. Later that year he received the Outstanding Musicianship Award from Berklee College’s touring faculty in Scotland and won the PRS Sir Arthur Bliss Prize Scholarship for composition, which enabled him to study film composition at London’s Royal College of Music.

Byrne moved to Los Angeles from Ireland in July 2003. Since then, he has consistently worked as a composer, conductor, songwriter, arranger and pianist—in the US and Europe. Brian recently won two World Soundtrack Awards and a Satellite Award for his music to the theme song and score for the movie Albert Nobbs and was recently nominated for a third World Soundtrack Award in 2016.

From huge orchestral scores to minimal ensemble compositions, Byrne has written music for films in many genres. He won his first Irish Film and Television Award for his original score for the Irish Sci-Fi comedy Zonad, directed by John Carney. He then scored an indie drama called The Good Doctor, starring Orlando Bloom, and went on to compose the score to the Oscar-nominated movie Albert Nobbs, starring Glenn Close.

Byrne has composed music for internationally acclaimed Irish dance shows, and has collaborated with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Katy Perry, Bono, Barbra Streisand, Josh Groban, Sinead O’Connor, Kelly Clarkson and Sarah McLachlan.

Byrne is married to a native Oklahoman and splits his residence between Oklahoma, Los Angeles and Ireland.

Musicians

Seth Malone

Born into a musical family, Seth has always had a passion for a wide variety of music from Renaissance motets to tango nuevo. From his base at Armstrong Auditorium, he performs, teaches, arranges and composes music. He joined as the bandstand manager for Celtic Throne in its 2023 season, performing on cello, double bass, keyboard and singing. He has collaborated and performed with Gerard Schwartz, Julian Schwartz, the Mozart Orchestra of New York, gentri, Tabea Debus, Benjamin Shute, and Tess Remy-Schumacher; not to mention regular collaborations with local Oklahoma musicians and Armstrong artists. He has also premiered several works written by his father, composer and pianist Ryan Malone.

Joel Hilliker

Joel Hilliker is a writer, editor, teacher and musician who somehow found himself as the token old guy in a show full of young, sprightly Irish dancers—including his three kids! He holds a degree in music composition and has been composing, arranging, performing and recording on various instruments for over four decades. Most recently, he has performed with Celtic Throne as a singer, and on percussion, piano, guitar and mandolin.

Ezekiel Malone

Ezekiel started playing violin when he was 6 under teacher Peter Nguyen and added voice lessons at 18. Though he prefers singing, most of Ezekiel’s accomplishments—performing locally and internationally, teaching and recording—have come from his violin. He has been with Celtic Throne since its 2020 premiere.

Megan Jenkins

Megan Jenkins’ musical journey started with piano lessons at age 6 and clarinet at age 8. She has won several competitions on both instruments and participated in several chamber groups at Armstrong Auditorium in Edmond, Oklahoma. She began learning Irish whistle at age 15. Her father, Mark Jenkins, was a part of the original Celtic Throne production and arranged much of the music. Megan joined the show in 2023 on whistles, keyboard and singing. She is a student at Herbert W. Armstrong College who likes music, traveling and developing new skills.

Kyle March

Whether he’s grooving on the drum set or shredding on the bodhrán, Kyle joined the Celtic Throne troupe in 2023. Along with his parents who help backstage, Kyle has four sisters, all of whom are in the show. He studies percussion privately with award-winning Irish drummer Cormac Byrne. When he’s not practicing drums, he can be found grilling food for the Celtic Throne troupe or practicing his backflips with other dancers. Kyle is currently a student at Herbert W. Armstrong College.

Jessica Brandon

Jessica has been singing since before she could talk. She grew up in a family of singers with an eclectic collection of musical influences; one of her earliest memories involves a jazz jam session and a pair of maracas. She has been involved in many choirs and musical productions. In 2016, she was a lead singer in the premiere of The Widow’s Might and has sung in Celtic Throne since 2021. She also teaches a 7th grade English class (which includes some Celtic Throne dancers). She likes to read, do arts and crafts projects, drink tea, and take care of her extensive plant collection.

Vienna Flurry

In addition to being one of Celtic Throne’s choreographers and dance teachers, Vienna stars in the show as a lead singer. She has loved singing her whole life in a wide range of genres and styles. At 10 years old, she was featured in Mendelssohn’s Elijah for the inaugural concert at Armstrong Auditorium, and has since performed as a dancer and a singer in several other musicals. She studied voice in the United States and the United Kingdom. Along with her brother and parents, Vienna was integral in the creation of Celtic Throne, and has performed as a dancer, singer and violinist. Vienna is also passionate about studying nutrition and loves playing basketball with her dad.

Jordan Saranga

Jordan grew up with a love of musical instruments. After cycling through guitar, drums and piano, he settled on singing. Since age 7, he has participated in choirs and performed in several musicals and oratorios. After dancing in Celtic Throne since its inception, Jordan began singing in the show in 2021. He enjoys teaching dance classes for the younger dancers. He is also an avid sports enthusiast who will never turn down a good burger.

Zoe Hilliker

Growing up, Zoe was surrounded by music and dance at school and at home. Since starting violin at age 8, she has performed as a soloist and in multiple chamber ensembles with friends and family. Bluegrass jam sessions with her dad paid off: Now she gets to jam with him on the big stage! She plays on a German violin dating back to the 1790s. Zoe currently tours with Celtic Throne as both a dancer and violinist. (Sometimes she even does both at the same time!)

Aaron Eagle

Aaron Eagle spent his childhood years in a Michigan suburb south of Detroit, listening to his family’s ’40s to ’70s jazz records on vinyl. He started learning trumpet at age 10, quickly forming a special love for Big Band, smooth jazz and many other music genres. Today he performs in the show as a musician and a dancer. He has been with Celtic Throne since its inception in 2020. He enjoys a wide range of other interests, including horseback riding, accounting and ice-skating.