Playing the traditional music of Ireland and Scotland, a New Orleans-based ensemble will perform April 10 at Mississippi State.

The Poor Clares bring their Celtic sound to a 7:30 p.m. concert in the McComas Hall theater. Tickets for the university Lyceum Series-sponsored performance are $8 for adults, $6 for senior citizens (ages 65 and over) and $4 for children 3-12. MSU students are admitted free with student identification.

Formed in 1993, the Poor Clares were musicians working at O'Flaherty's Irish Pub in the French Quarter. That same year, they made a widely praised debut at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

The group is the first Celtic band in the South signed to an internationally distributed record contract. In addition to recently appearing in the National Geographic Society concert series, they have performed at the Milwaukee Irish Fest and with the Baton Rouge Pops Symphony. Their first recording, "Resurrected Lover," was released independently in 1995.

The Poor Clares repertoire includes mostly the traditional music of Ireland, Scotland and North America. They take advantage, however, of the rich musical heritage of their Louisiana home by blending jazz, Latin, gospel, and Cajun influences.

For more information, telephone Stephanie Sanders at 325-4201 or visit the Lyceum web site at www.msstate.edu/dept/lyceum.