Klondyke Fiddle School
Dawson City, Yukon, Canada
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Klondyke Fiddle School Dawson City, Yukon, Canada |
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Instructors |
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Ward MacDonald At 29 years of age and steeped in Scottish tradition, Ward MacDonald is one of the most accomplished and well-rounded young fiddlers on Prince Edward Island. With the fiddling gene present on both sides of his family, Ward’s musical roots run back four generations, including his father Allan, both grandfathers, and his great grandfather and namesake, Ward Crane. Ward has played concerts, festivals, and square dances across the Maritimes and other parts of Canada including Ontario, Quebec, and the Yukon. He is also an emerging composer having had some of his tunes published or recorded by other Maritime musicians including Jerry Holland, Andrea Beaton, Sheila MacKenzie, and Vishten. |
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Ward has been instrumental in promoting and developing the traditional fiddle music scene on PEI for over a decade. His passion for passing on the tradition is carried on through performance and teaching. As a teacher he possesses a very thorough technical understanding of the music with a knack for being able to explain it well. His methods include intense ear training aided by written sheet music. On PEI, he promotes the education of fiddle players through workshops at the annual Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival, and he has also traveled to places like Blue Hill, Maine, to teach at fiddle camps. |
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| Ward’s volunteer time includes countless hours with the PEI Fiddlers Society, a not-for-profit community group that promotes fiddling across the province through its three chapters. During his two terms as President, Ward worked to establish a quarterly newsletter and website. Ward has also been Musical Director for the Queens County Chapter of the Society since age 18, and he produced that Chapter’s debut recording, "Forty Fiddles Flat Out!". With that experience behind him, he has plans for his own recording in the near future. After acquiring a B Sc from UPEI in 2001 and a B Ed from St. FX in 2003, Ward started his own event planning company thereby combining his organizational skills will his love of music. |
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Jeff Matheson Jeff is a Cape Breton guitarist & piano player |
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Dean
Tower
Dean has studied violin since the age of 7 - beginning
with Suzuki, switching to a conservatory style training, and also dabbling
in Fiddle music. He has a Bachelor of Education in Music from the University
of Alberta and has instructed School Music programs throughout Northern
Alberta. |
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Steve Slade Steve Slade is a singer/song writer who
has called Yukon home for the past 30 years. He has toured extensively
throughout Canada and Alaska. |
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Performers |
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Willie Gordon Willie Gordon is one of the Yukon's permanent fiddlers. Willie's career spans over 30 years and includes radio broadcasting, concerts and touring. This is the third year that Willie has participated as a guest performer.
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Bill
Stevens
Bill Stevens is the most recognized Athabascan fiddler in North America today. For 20 years he has been sharing the cultural history of his music through recordings and public appearances in the state of Alaska and around the world. He has made a concentrated effort to ensure that the music of his culture is not lost. Bill will be performing at dances and concerts throughout the Discovery Days Weekend. The Klondyke Fiddle School gratefully acknowledges the financial support and working partnership with the Trondek Hwechin First Nation so that Bill can attend. |
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The Rock Creek Flood The Rock Creek Flood is comprised of Simon Crelli and Aaron Burnie. The bandmates are closely associated with the Klonydke Fiddle School. Simon and Aaron tutor learners, play for community square dances and host touring musicians at their home venue – Bombay Peggy's Inn & Pub. |
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Klondyke Fiddle School PH 1.867.334.3042 © Klondyke Fiddle School |
