Vancouver Island Fiddle Camp
Thursday, March 24th to Saturday, March 27th
Seven Springs Resort in Nanoose Bay, BC
Three days of fiddle, piano, guitar, mandolin and vocal instruction for everyone: aged 6 years to 60+, ranging from total beginners to advanced fiddlers, and including those classical players with no experience in fiddle music. Vancouver Island Fiddle Camp happens Thursday, March 24th to Saturday, March 27th at Seven Springs Resort in Nanoose Bay, BC. There is also an Instructors' Showcase Concert featuring all of the fabulous and talented teachers. This is open to the public. The concert is on Friday March 25 at 7pm at St. Mary's Anglican Church (2600 Powder Point Rd.). Tickets are $20 and $10, available at the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music ((250) 754-4611) or at the door. The camp website is web.me.com/nanaimofiddlers.
This camp has been running since March 2008. That first year we had four teachers and 25 registrations, and last year, 2010, there were over 50 participants and 7 instructors. We have a great core group of returning students each year, but most exciting for me as director is the number of new faces we see. I think that camps like this are a great way to build community and connect people of all ages through shared musical experience.
Registration is still open but closes at 5pm on March 17, so I would definitely encourage anyone interested in coming out this year to contact the Conservatory to complete registration.
Fiddle music is largely taught by ear in a group setting, and it is often more 'social' than other forms of music study because of the opportunity to participate in jam sessions with other students. The music is lively and energetic and full of joy, and is truly timeless in that it connects players of all ages and backgrounds. Instructors for this yearly event include Master Fiddler Gordon Stobbe (Seaforth NS), National Champion Fiddler Trent Freeman (Comox BC), Serena Eades (fiddle, Gibsons BC), Miriam Sonstenes (Fiddle, Victoria BC), Reuben Gurr (Groove and Choir, Vancouver BC), Geoff Horrocks (piano accompaniment, Nanaimo BC), and Trish Clair-Peck (Nanaimo BC).
This camp is an excellent opportunity to learn new tunes from some of Canada's finest folk music instructors. The atmosphere is one of sharing, encouragement, and fun. For those who have always wanted to learn to play an instrument, the first-time fiddle class gives you the chance to try your hand at fiddle. Classical violin, viola, or cello students who are curious about fiddle music are also welcomed and encouraged to attend. Camp participants come from across Canada: this year we have registrants from Toronto and Saskatoon as well as many Vancouver Island and lower Mainland students. The ages of participants is six and up.
The two "headliners" are Gordon Stobbe (Nova Scotia) and Trent Freeman. Gordon teaches at camps and workshops all over Canada, including being part of the Kole Crook Fiddle Association in the Northwest Territories (a not-for-profit group which brings fiddle teachers to remote NWT communities, and an organization with whom Geoff Horrocks and I are also teachers). Gordon is also a prolific recording artist and has published the most popular line of fiddle instructional books in North America.
Trent Freeman (originally from Comox) recently graduated from the performance program at Berklee School of Music in Boston, and is regularly touring the USA as a performer and clinician. He competed several times in the Canadian Grand Masters competition and has won many awards for his eclectic style of playing.
The Nanaimo Conservatory of Music also maintains a bursary fund to assist low-income families with tuition at camp. We have offered assistance to many families in past years, and are always welcoming donations to the fund. The Nanaimo Fiddlers, a local group led by Trish Clair-Peck and Geoff Horrocks, is also available for hire to play at private functions in return for a donation to the bursary fund.
-30-
For more information, to talk to organizer of Vancouver Island Fiddle Camp, Trish Clair-Peck or Kathleen Darby of The Nanaimo Conversatory of Music to make enquiries, register for camp, make a donation to the camp bursary fund, or purchase tickets to the Instructors' Concert please call (250) 754-4611 or email nanaimofiddlers@me.com. Kimberly Plumley is happy to arrange interviews too! You can reach her at 250-390-9285 or via email at kim@publicitymavens.com.
--
Kimberly Plumley
Publicity Mavens
kim@publicitymavens.com
Office: 250-390-9285/Cell: 778-838-0514
Twitter: @KimPlumley
Check out www.thebookbroads.com and www.GarlickandPlumJam.com too.
