Violinist Fionnuala (pronounced fi-NOO-la) Sherry said the moment she heard the violin, she knew she had to play.
"I really didn't have a career choice in that matter," she said with a shy giggle during a telephone interview from Philadelphia, Pa. "I just knew I had to play."Sherry and her cohort, keyboardist Rolf Lovland -- known as the duo Secret Garden -- will perform in the Capitol Theatre on Sunday, May 2. The music will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at all ArtTix outlets or by calling (801) 355-ARTS (2787).
Lovland's draw to music was a "natural thing."
"My decision to play music stemmed from the natural need to express myself," Lovland said during the same phone call. "It just happened."
The duo began collaborating in 1994. Up to that time, Lovland had found his niche as a much-respected songwriter, arranger and producer in Norway.
Sherry, on the other hand, had played with the RTE Concert Orchestra in Ireland. She also studied at Ireland's Trinity College and College of Music, and did studio work for Van Morrison, Sinead O'Connor and Clannad.
"When we got together, we had done so much with our individual music that it was a matter of narrowing down our focus," said Lovland. "It was a moment in both our careers where everything clicked."
"We went in to the Secret Garden project knowing we had to work together," added Sherry. "And there wasn't any adjustment to be made. We respected each other's styles and used them together."
Now, five years and three albums later, their latest CD is "Dawn of a New Century," and Secret Garden has found itself on the speed track.
"After the concert date in Salt Lake City, we will then tour Canada and play concerts in Toronto and Montreal," said Sherry. "Then we're off to Europe, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Korea and Malaysia."
Within their tight schedule, Sherry and Lovland still find it refreshing playing the music they really enjoy. "The real success is to indulge in what we're doing," said Sherry. "And that indulgence leads us to new places and fascinating people."
"Meeting people who tell us stories of how our music influences them is definitely a great reward," said Lovland. "But there are rewards in many levels. And our music is very passionate, and it feels wonderful to dig deep into that feeling."
Last March, Secret Garden stopped in Salt Lake City to tape a program for PBS. It was the first time Sherry and Lovland had been in Utah. "It was a wonderful experience," said Sherry. "One of the highlights was going to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Sunday morning."
"We had a good response during that PBS program," said Lovland. "I'm excited to return."