It was a homecoming of sorts for Lutheran Ceili Orchestra pianist Caleb Schmiege, a 2012 MLC Pastor Track graduate, now Lead Academy Pastor at Divine Savior Academy in Doral, FL.

“I have lots of fond memories of MLC. I remember giving my first chapel message here,” said Schmiege. “I did lots of theater stuff here too.”

The orchestra is a group of Christian musicians specializing in a Celtic perspective on Christian worship. It paired bagpipes, a tin whistle, fiddle, harp, accordion, and other classic sounds of Celtic music with the worship format, traditions, legends and characters of Celtic Christianity.

Bandleader Joey Schumann, who is also a physician, artist and ultra marathon runner, said the orchestra began in the 1990s when St. Marcus Lutheran Church in east Milwaukee called for musicians to accompany a Christian worship service around St. Patrick’s Day.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Caleb Schmiege, a 2012 Martin Luther College graduate, plays piano for the Lutheran Ceili Orchestra at ChristSong, a Celtic Christmas Concert at Martin Luther Colege Saturday.

He said Ceili is a Gaelic word that means a gathering or party.

“Tonight, we’re going to have some fun. Sing along with us,” said Schumann.

Music began with jigs including “Joy of My Life, I Saw Three Ships, Out of the Air, and Spike the Punch Bowl.”

More common Christmas music included “Joy To The World, Angels We Have Heard On High, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, and Silent Night” to mention a few.

Schumann has been an annual featured Celtic performer at Carnegie Hall in New York City for nearly a decade. His primary instruments are tin whistle, uilleann (bag) pipes, duduk (a cylindrical wind instrument) and piano.

The orchestra includes musicians from all over Wisconsin and has toured much of the United States.