News

The latest news from the Cape Breton Fiddlers' Association.

Workshop Instructors Announced for 2010 Festival

Piano - Kolten MacDonell

Kolten MacDonell is a celtic fiddler and piano accompanist from Glencoe, Cape Breton. He has been teaching and performing fiddle, piano and step dance for the past eight years and has been influenced in piano by Stephanie Wills, in fiddle by Brenda Stubbert and Jerry Holland. Along with a busy performance schedule, Kolten teaches during the summer months at St. Ann's Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts.

Beginner Stepdance - Melody Cameron

Melody Cameron has been around Cape Breton music all her life. She has been step dancing from the age of five and has played the fiddle for over 20 years. Melody also has danced and given workshops in the Inverness Co. Square Set and the Scots Four. Over the years Melody has performed with Natalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac, the Rankin Family, Rita MacNeil, and many others. She has participated in Celtic Colours International Festival events and entertained all over Cape Breton in many festivals, concerts, pubs and dances.

Beginner Fiddle - Boyd MacNeil

Boyd MacNeil grew up in the small town of Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia. He is the youngest of six siblings, all of which grew up playing music and now play professionally in a band known as The Barra MacNeils. He and his brother Ryan are also original members of a band known as Slainte Mhath, a progressive celtic band. They traveled extensively for ten years with stops at major festivals and concert halls in North America, Europe, parts of Asia and Mexico. Teaching at the Gaelic College, privately and at workshops on his travels has been ongoing throughout his career and will likely continue for many years to come.

Advanced Stepdance - Lisa Gallant

Lisa Gallant is a Global Business Management graduate from Saint Mary’s University and currently works as the Fundraising Coordinator for the Northside Community Guest Home Foundation. She is also a seasoned step dance instructor. She has taught as part of the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts educational program over the years as well as teaching privately and at workshops locally, nationally, and internationally. Lisa toured regularly with celtic fusion group, Slainte Mhath, playing music and dancing and is looking forward to teaming up with the Cape Breton Fiddler’s Association to provide step dance instruction at the 2010 Festival.

Advanced Fiddle - Kyle MacNeil

Kyle MacNeil is always extremely busy playing fiddle, guitar, mandolin and singing in his family group, the Barra MacNeils. The MacNeil siblings are widely regarded as one of the greatest live concert acts in the Celtic world. Hailing from Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, the family group is deeply rooted in Celtic music, culture, dance, language and history. Their numerous critically acclaimed recordings have included their own original songs as well as tried and true standards, both instrumental and vocal. He and his siblings joined the Cape Breton Fiddlers’ Association at an early age, and have been active members since. Kyle has toured throughout North America, Europe, and beyond, while still continuing to live and play in Cape Breton. He has been teaching privately as well as specialized classes at Cape Breton University for a number of years.

The Passing of Fiddler-Composer John Campbell

It is with great regret we announce the death of noted Cape Breton composer-fiddler-performer John Campbell on July 22, 2010. As most of you know John spent much of his life in the Boston area, he started playing for dances when he was fifteen and was known for being a lively dance player.

While promoting Cape Breton Fiddle music across the United States he often invited Cape Breton Fiddlers to the Boston dances as far back as the 1970's. He wrote many tunes and recorded a number of albums in his career.

Our deep sympathy is extended to his family, friends and fans.

Cape Breton Fiddlers @ Celtic Colours October 2010

On Saturday, October 9th, 2010 the Cape Breton Fiddlers will perform at St. Matthew's United Church in Inverness as part of the Celtic Colours International Festival. The church has wonderful acoustics and will be an excellent venue.

The concert will start at 2:00pm. We ask that the fiddlers be there an hour prior to the start of the concert. We also ask that all fiddlers dress in the traditional black and white.

Find more information on the festival and tickets HERE.

Fiddlers Set For Annual Festival - August 2010

St. Ann's, Cape Breton - July 22, 2010 - Fiddles are heard at times of celebration and sorrow. The very make-up of a good piece of fiddle music can take you through many emotions, it is one of the reasons Cape Breton fiddle music has been popularized around the globe. Thousands of tunes composed by past and present Cape Breton fiddle composers are played in Germany to the homeland in Scotland, PEI and Ontario and across Nova Scotia, for music knows no boundaries.

Witness the magic of Cape Breton fiddle music when the Cape Breton Fiddlers’ Association hosts the 37th annual Festival of Fiddling on Saturday, August 21 and Sunday, August 22, 2010, on the grounds of the iconic Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts in St. Ann's, Victoria County.

The Fiddle festival kicks off with youth day on August 21st. A series of Fiddle, Piano, and Stepdance workshops will be held from 2 - 5pm under the direction of some of the Association's finest performers/instructors. An evening Ceilidh focusing on the younger members of the Association begins at 6 p.m. in MacKenzie Hall. The concert will feature both solo and group fiddle numbers along with piano, guitar and song from the talented next generation.

"The youth component of the association has always been important to us" says musical director Eddie Rogers. "We purposely highlight their talent, it's exciting to see them shine in front of an audience."

The youth concert will be followed by a family square dance open to all.

The big concert is the highlight of August 22nd. Musicians from across Cape Breton Island, throughout mainland Nova Scotia as well as Prince Edward Island and other parts of Canada and the U.S will converge on the Gaelic College to participate in this annual tradition. The concert begins at 2 p.m. on the outdoor stage on the grounds of the Gaelic College. The concert features a rich line-up of fiddlers, piano players, bagpipers, singers, etc.

Lead organizer, stepdancer Betty Matheson says, "This concert enables the Association to spotlight some of the tunes the group of fiddlers have been working on throughout the year. It is a real showcase for our members and a tribute to the rich music and culture of the Island."

The concert will take place, rain or shine, as the historic Hall of the Clans is available in case of inclement weather.

Full concession facilities will be available throughout the weekend with plenty of free parking. For further information, contact: 902-849-8476.

Membership Registration Form

Registration fees constitute a large percentage of our revenue. It is important for all members to keep their dues paid up to date. The fee is twenty dollars ($20.00) within Canada and twenty-five dollars ($25.00) elsewhere. If you have already paid for 2010, thank you. If you have not, please send your dues in soon. The address is:

Cape Breton Fiddlers' Association

70 Station Street

Dominion, NS B1G 1W2

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