Few hymns carry as much universal weight as “Amazing Grace,” but Celtic Woman managed to put their own unmistakable stamp on the traditional anthem. In this standout performance, vocalists Susan McFadden, Chloë Agnew, and Lisa Lambe combine their voices in an arrangement that leans into lush Celtic crossover textures. Rather than belting out individual show-stopping runs, the trio builds a gentle, disciplined harmony that allows the familiar melody room to breathe.
The performance was filmed at the Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend, Indiana, during an April 2013 stop on the group’s Believe tour. For the live concert release Emerald: Musical Gems, the staging strips away distracting arena gimmicks to focus entirely on vocal balance and atmosphere. It provides a striking snapshot of an Irish ensemble finding fresh emotional depth in an eighteenth-century standard.
At the heart of the arrangement was Celtic Woman co-creator David Downes, who produced the performance, played piano and arranged the piece. Downes did not reinvent John Newton’s centuries-old hymn, but he gave it a distinctly Irish pulse with Anthony Byrne’s bagpipes. Byrne had already toured with the group and even recorded an instrumental take on his own solo album, making his presence here feel like a natural extension of Celtic Woman’s signature sound.
The three singers also represented an intriguing mix of group history. Agnew had been a core soloist since Celtic Woman first formed in 2004, while Lambe joined several years later in 2011. McFadden stepped into a permanent spot in early 2013, bringing experience from West End runs in London in musicals like Grease and Legally Blonde. Despite their different musical backgrounds, their voices lock together seamlessly across the verses. For another interpretation of the hymn, Celtic Woman Official features this rendition of “Amazing Grace,” produced and arranged by Gavin Murphy.
Online listeners have continued returning to the clip, pushing it past 3.5 million views on the group’s official channel. Some of the reaction highlights the deep emotional pull of the instrumentation, particularly the bagpipes, which some commenters associate with remembrance and personal solace. One viewer noted that if there ever was a song meant to be played on the bagpipes, it is “Amazing Grace,” adding that the piece holds an exceptionally important place in their heart.
While “Amazing Grace” has been performed in almost every style imaginable since William Walker first paired Newton’s words with the “New Britain” melody in 1835, this 2013 performance holds a special spot. It highlights a brief, memorable era in Celtic Woman’s rotating lineup, capturing three singers, haunting bagpipes and accompanying musicians turning a familiar prayer into a sweeping, reflective concert centrepiece.