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Victoria Fiddle Society- FiddleFest Instructors 2009 |
FiddleFest 2009 Instructors
On Line Registration is now closed. On-site registration only Friday and Saturday.
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Calvin Cairns has toured around the world and Canada as a performer with Stringband, The Romaniacs, and The Bills. He has performed with Connie Kaldor, Spirit of the West, The Halifax Symphony, Thunder Bay Symphony, and Stuart Maclean. In 1995 Calvin began teaching violin / fiddle, using a blend of the Colour String Method and the early Suzuki repertoire leading to a programme of international folk fiddling styles. He taught for two years on Saltspring Island, and formed the Saltspring Island Fiddlers. Calvin then taught at the Victoria Conservatory from 1996-2007, teaching group classes in folk fiddling and directing the Conservatory Fiddles, an all ages Fiddle Orchestra, which had over fifty members. Calvin currently teaches in the small communities of the Northwest Territories and continues to perform at folk festivals and local venues. |
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Adam Dobres,
guitar
(Youtube)
Adam is a quiet, slightly eccentric, unassuming 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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Blake Ritter
(fiddle)
(MySpace)
(Youtube)
Award winning Irish style fiddler Blake Ritter is a skillful player with an immaculate and energetic style, garnered from his classical background and his passion and commitment to Irish traditional music. Having won many US fiddle championships, 25 year old Blake had the honor of taking 1st place in the North American Regional Fleadh Cheoil in 2007 and again in 2009. In 2007 he earned an All-Ireland Championship and this summer he will travelling to Ireland to compete in the 2009 Fleadh. |
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Pharis Romero (voice) (Youtube) Pharis is a singer, songwriter and guitar player, playing at folk clubs and festivals since she was a tiny girl from small town interior BC. Her classical vocal training has given way to a passionate love for old time, old country, roots, and folk, and as a member of The Haints, Outlaw Social, and other groups, she's been found at festivals, venues and workshops across North America. Pharis is also a frequent vocal workshops instructor - from basic singing skills to advanced harmony classes - at acoustic music camps and in private or group settings, including at the Festival of American Fiddletunes and B.C. Bluegrass Workshops. She currently directs The Old Time Vocal Choir in Duncan, BC, and is as a passionate teacher dedicated to developing happier and more confident singers! |
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Mark Sullivan. 3-time Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Champion and 3- time Canadian Open Fiddle Champion. A leader in Canadian Fiddling, his versatile style renders him in demand for teaching, performing, and judging. Alongside some of the finest names in his field, Mark has toured extensively throughout Canada, the United States and Japan. Mark is in high demand as an ambassador of the Canadian style, as well as a respected Irish, French Canadian and Western Swing player. Mark’s skillful interpretation of his tradition has earned him the reputation as one of the finest fiddlers in the country. Mark holds his Masters in Education and is currently living in Vancouver, working as a school teacher and active as a musician. |
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Velle
Huscroft Weitman, a.k.a.
"the Velleraven", was born lippy... especially
after being a Top 40 radio announcer for 5 years
and growing upwith sibling rivalry in the Huscroft Family Fiddlers (Zav R-T). She brings a
spicy and saucy energy to the various bands
she's worked in such as Jeremy Walsh Band,
Honeygirl, Canada the Band and The Dragonflies.
With a contemporary style of fiddling and strong
harmony vocals Velle has complimented all styles
of song-writing, world rhythms and genres both
on stage and as a recording artist. |