Songs from the highlands of the British Isles and Appalachia waft through Cary as the acoustic music band Mountain Aires preserves traditional tunes and adds new ones of their own.

The band started as a group of teen homeschooled students who met to play music in the winter of 2004. Enter Trans World Radio missionary Marvin Heath. A longtime friend of two future band members, he joined the boys in their music sessions. Drawing on his extensive experience in music, Heath taught the boys the intricacies of playing as a group.

Gradually the jam sessions turned into practices, and the Mountain Aires came into existence. After weeks of finding, arranging and practicing songs, the band began playing in public.

Mountain Aires plays a unique blend of bluegrass, old-time, folk, gospel and Celtic music. Songs featuring fiery picking follow contemplative melodies punctuated by sentimental harmonies. Besides traditional favorites such as “Cripple Creek” and “Be Thou my Vision,” their repertoire also includes original pieces which highlight the band’s melodic style.

The band has performed in a wide variety of venues. They first appeared in a talent show held by a local group of homeschool families. Then they volunteered to play in nursing homes. As their reputation slowly grew, new venues opened. Throughout 2006 they were invited to entertain at banquets, graduations and a wedding reception.

Following the release of their first recording, the band promoted the CD through performances at stores and coffee shops in eastern North Carolina. Their most notable performances came in 2006 and 2007 at the N.C. State Fair Folk Festival competition where they received several awards for both individual and group performances. Their biggest show yet was a homeschool talent show at a statewide convention in Winston Salem hosted by North Carolinians for Home Education. The talent show attracted an audience of over 1,000.

The band has produced one recording. “Echo the Legacy” was released on Jan. 1, 2007. The title of the album was chosen because the band says they are “shameless antiquarians” keeping the traditions of acoustic music alive. The album includes the traditional favorites and originals that made up the band’s first repertoire. The two original songs were both written by Heath.

The band is currently working on a second recording featuring both familiar and little-known Christmas songs played in the band’s usual mix of styles. The album should be released by Christmas 2008.

Members say that Mountain Aires has three reasons for playing music: The first is to have fun. Their second reason is to bring joy to other people. Finally, the band says, “Our goal is to play our music with all our hearts Soli Deo Gloria, to the glory of God alone.”

Find out more about the Mountain Aires at their Web site: mountainairesmusic.com.