JCCA: Katie McMahon’s Celtic Celebration to perform Nov. 19 at NHS

Is it socially acceptable to perform a step dance when listening to Irish and Celtic music? Well, perhaps we will find out next week. The Jasper County Concert Association is presenting Katie McMahon’s Celtic Celebration at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Center for Performance inside Newton High School.

Katie McMahon is best known for her soprano solo in “Riverdance” but has maintained a steady musical career since the 1990s. Alliterative Irish journalists have described McMahon’s voice as “poetry, perfection and purity,” a result of her classical training that also extends to harp work.

Minnesota Music Academy awarded McMahon the best folk and acoustic artist and she has toured the world with the group Secret Garden as their lead singer and harpist. Minneapolis journalists say her soulful voices “imbues Irish songs with the sadness and spark they need to be, well, Irish.”

The Celtic Celebration includes McMahon with a music ensemble and Celtic dancers. Well, that all but ensures there will be step dancing from the performers. But as for the audience? It might be best to stay seated and let the professionals do the dancing. Save it for the parking lot after the show.

Memberships to the concert association are sold for the season of concerts, but tickets can also be purchased for $25 at the door the day of the show.

Two types of memberships are available: adults for $60 and families for $130. The membership allows the member to attend five concerts in Newton, five concerts in Indianola and seven concerts in Marshalltown. Indianola and Marshalltown concerts will be printed on a ticket mailed before the first concert.

For anyone interested in attending other shows this season, contact the association at 641-521-8735 or mail a check to JCCA, P.O. Box 1252, Newton, Iowa, 50208. List the type of membership you want. Memberships may also be purchased at Mattingly Music and Book on the west side of the square.

Upcoming JCCA shows include:

The She Gees will be performing their tribute to the Bee Gees on March 23, 2026. The female-led tribute brings all those high notes that made Barry, Robin and Maurice so mesmerizing in the ’60s and ’70s. The She Gees bring with them impeccable harmonies and soulful vocals, making the show authentic and fresh.

Tom Glynn will be performing his American Tune show on April 19, 2026. The singer-songwriter takes audiences on a trip back in time to experience the hits of greats like Paul Simon and James Taylor and the taken-too-soon Jim Croce. Glynn wants audiences to relieve the intimate storytelling these artists produced.

The Suits ends the season on May 15, 2026. The band is made up of four male vocalists performing genres of hit music through the ages. Pop and rock? Yup. Motown? You betcha. Doo wop? Of course! The Suits fuses smooth choreography, tight harmonies and exciting showmanship into a top notch show.