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Fiddle Fest
2008 Instructors
Back to Fiddle Fest Schedule
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Erynn Marshall
(fiddle) has carved out a niche for
herself as an old-time fiddler in Canada and
abroad. Her playing style is expressive and
innovative, yet rooted in tradition. She has
been featured at numerous concert venues, folk
clubs and festivals in the US and Canada and is
known for her smooth, bluesy fiddling and her
joy of performing home-made music with and for
others. Whether solo or teamed up with other
musicians in a string-band setting, Erynn blends
original compositions with enduring songs or
instrumentals that have stood the test of time.
She explores her own musical individuality while
honouring the musicians and traditions that have
influenced and inspired her along the way.
(My Space)
Erynn's Workshop Information |
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Jaime
(Zav) RT
(fiddle)
is not only a
dynamic performer but also loves to share her
music with kids, through teaching and school
shows. She is often found in her mukluks and
parka teaching fiddle to native youth in the
Northwest Territories, or enthusiastically
working her magic at fiddle camps. Fiddleworks
is her non-profit society, dedicated to sharing
the joy of music, building life skills and
developing community through innovative fiddle
education and music camps. She hosts one of the
West Coast's most successful fiddle camps, now
in it's 9th year with over 150 participants
(My Space) (Youtube) |
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Blake Ritter
(fiddle)
(MySpace)
(Youtube)
Blake is an award winning Irish style fiddle
player from Arcata, California, who is quickly
earning a place in the Irish Traditional Fiddle
world as an up and coming talent not only as a
performer but also as a teacher. Blake's
classical violin background has given him the
technical ability to stand out as a skillful &
passionate player and a well-rounded teacher.
Blake has studied in the U.S. and Ireland with
some of the best fiddlers in the Celtic
tradition, focusing primarily on Traditional
Irish style. Having won numerous fiddle
championships through his childhood & teens, 23
year old Blake had the honour of taking 1st
Place in the North American Regional Fleadh
Cheoil, which he followed up by earning an
All-Ireland Fiddle Championship in 2007.
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Ivonne Hernandez
(fiddle)
(My Space)
When Ivonne was five years old
with only two years of experience playing the
violin, she entered a fiddle contest at the
Saanich Fall Fair. There she won a rosette for
third place and thus her story began… she has
placed in every competition she has entered
since. By the age of three, she was able to
listen to anything and play it by ear: classical
music, Don Messer tunes and the
Latin music of her roots. From
that point on she was able to pick up and play
almost any instrument from guitar and piano, to
cello, flute, percussion and South American
instruments. She also started acting at a young
age appearing in musicals and dramatic roles
alike.
Ivonne
is the 4 time Grand North American
fiddle champion and is in her final year
studying on scholarship at Berklee College of
Music.
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Adam Dobres,
guitar
(Youtube)
Adam is a quiet, slightly eccentric,
unassuminig guitar wizard. Music is part
of his lineage - his grandfather was a master
violinist, his father managed a band back in
England, and encouraged Adam to play many
different styles growing up. Starting at age 15,
Adam's interest in Jazz music became a passion,
and this morphed into his propensity for any
style of music that gravitates to him - celtic,
old country, blues, folk, bluegrass, and on it
goes (you should hear him play death metal)...
His playing has brought him across Canada and
the United States with groups
Moody, Penner &
Swain, The Seams, Ridley Bent
and others;
accompanying
Daniel Lapp,
he's travelled across Canada and to the Celtic
Connections Festival in Scotland. |
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Pharis Romero
(voice) (Youtube)
Pharis is an outstanding singer, songwriter
and rhythm guitar player, and she's fast
becoming a prominent figure in the West
Coast acoustic music scene. Playing at folk
clubs and festivals since she was a tiny
girl, her classical vocal training has given
way to a passionate love for old time, old
country, roots, and folk. As a member of
Outlaw Social and other groups, she's been
found at many of the major festivals and
venues across Canada. She's known for her
straight-forward roots and country blues
vocal style, along with her distinct
songwriting. She's often found teaching
vocal workshops at acoustic music camps and
in private or group settings, and is as a
passionate teacher dedicated to developing
happier and more confident singers, while
continuing in the great folk song tradition.
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Jason Romero
(banjo)
(Youtube)
(Youtube)
Jason
is well known for building among the finest old
time and bluegrass banjos available. He built
for several years for world-renowned Wildwood
Banjos, and you may have heard his instruments
being played on recordings by Dirk Powell, The
Foghorn Stringband, Ricky Skaggs, and Ivan
Rosenberg. Jason is also an amazing clawhammer
(and bluegrass) banjo player, performing
regularly with fixtures of the old time and
bluegrass music scene in Northern California for
many years.
Since his relocation to Canada a year ago, he
now plays with Erynn Marshall and Pharis Romero
in the old time band The Haints, and is working
to help bring more old time and square dancing
to Vancouver Island. |
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