More Manhattan than County Mayo, Eileen Ivers sounds little like what many might expect of the reigning queen of the Celtic fiddle.

Ms. Ivers, who began sawing at strings at the age of 9 and made her name executing fiery runs on a flashy blue instrument in Riverdance, has made a career of trumping expectations.

She will perform tonight at Bell Auditorium and Friday at the University of South Carolina Aiken's Etherredge Center with the Augusta Symphony in a bill of mostly Christmas music, much of which was featured on her 2007 release, An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas .

"We want to bring across the feeling of an Irish Christmas, show how it might differ from what an American audience might expect," she said during a recent telephone interview. "That means there are carols an American audience might not have heard, might not expect. There are also jigs and reels, which I think really put across the joy of the season."

Ms. Ivers usually plays with just her band, Immigrant Soul. She said playing with symphonies is a case of risk and reward, with the emphasis on the latter.

"We have had to learn through the years," she said. "But I do like living in the moment. For me, that's the magic of live performance. I love taking little forays, little roads."

Ms. Ivers said her orchestral arrangements are relatively sparse for that reason. On the slower numbers, she said, having an orchestra on stage is an immeasurable boon.

"Irish melodies are just so beautiful and melodic and rich," the fiddler said. "The orchestra really brings that out. It's a wonderful marriage."

Expect a somewhat swinging version of Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring and The Wexford Carol , a traditional Irish tune written in the 12th century.

Still, Ms. Ivers said she and her band always remember that Irish music has continued to thrive and survive because of its traditions. It's important, she said, to play the old tunes with respect.

"We have such pride in our music and our heritage," said Ms. Ivers, whose parents emigrated to the United States from Ireland. "Playing this music is a privilege, and there's nothing I love more than looking out at a crowd and seeing that people get that. This music is all about reaching people, making a connection. That is our success."

Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.