Most families would consider themselves lucky to have one talented musician among their ranks, but the Leahys are blessed many times over.

The award-winning Canadian musical family gave its audience a phenomenal show Saturday at the Maine Center for the Arts with its perfectly blended Celtic, folk, rock, pop, country and classical music, combined with step-dancing. A high energy was emitted from every limb of Donnell Leahy, the apparent leader of the group, and was the driving force of the show.

Leahy, which usually is composed of nine siblings, performed with only eight members Saturday.

In front of a simple white backdrop that took on a variety of hues as the stage lights changed, the Leahy siblings captivated the crowd as they sang, danced and played together – something they’ve been doing all their lives.

The Leahys come from a musical family near Lakefield, Ontario, and learned to play the fiddle from their father, while their mother, who was born and raised in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, taught them how to sing, dance and play the piano. Much of the inspiration for their unique style comes from a deep-rooted sense of history. Ancestor Michael Leahy, who arrived in Canada in 1825 from Ireland, brought with him a rich musical tradition that was passed down through the generations.

“You’re going to have a good time whether you like it or not,” Donnell Leahy told the audience in his humorous fashion. “We got a good night’s sleep last night, so watch out.”

From feisty reels that made the fiddler’s fingers fly to a slow ballad called “Borrowed Time” inspired by a woman who had lost her daughter to cancer, the energy created on stage inevitably extended to the audience.

Though timid at first, the audience enthusiastically clapped along by the end and seemed to particularly enjoy the Riverdancelike talents of the Leahy sisters.

A favorite of the audience came when the siblings “jammed” onstage as they often do when not performing.

“A set list takes away a lot of the spontaneity of our playing and that’s what we’re about and where we come from,” Donnell Leahy said. With feet tapping, the siblings inspired one another and magically took off, ending the improv session with a reel at the signal of Donnell.

As the siblings re-entered the stage for a fervently requested encore number, Donnell joked, “We don’t know anything else.” But he couldn’t have been further from the truth.

Leahy’s encore proved to be the most exciting and energetic number of the evening. leaving the audience wanting more. The group displayed its varying individual talents by swapping instruments – fiddle, bass, guitar, piano and drums – and ended the performance with synchronized step-dancing by all eight members that delighted the audience and brought a second standing ovation.