Cape Breton Fiddle- a few musicians worth noting ♪

Fiddler Jerry Holland is recognized internationally as a Celtic fiddle master and has impressed audiences all over the world! His performances are emotional and highly energetic, and are impossible to listen to without tapping ones foot or jumping to the dance floor. He has recently bought the Ceilidh Trail School of Music in Inverness, NS.
He has influenced many youth fiddlers like Kristin Shaw who will be playing with him along with Kimberley Fraser and Brenda Stubbert, two fellow instructors at the Ceilidh Trail School of Music. Kristin’s father Kelly Shaw who is also a fiddler learned from the great Jerry Holland so she owes her passion for the fiddle to Holland. Like Jerry, this Youth fiddler sticks to traditional upbeat and fun tunes. 15 yr old Kristin says she likes to play predominantly Scottish-style fiddle which is mainly found on the Western side of Cape Breton. Kristin says she doesn’t really remember taking up the fiddle but has always played, without any formal instruction. She enjoys playing reels the most because they can go on as long as you want them to and they’re fun and upbeat. This budding star has played at various concerts, at the Normaway’s Barn and is playing at the Ceilidhs in Inverness each Thursday night and plans to play with a group of youth fiddlers at the up and coming Celtic Colors festival this fall.
Brenda Stubbert, is another well-known Cape Breton Fiddler and is also teaching at the Ceilidh Trail School of Music. She is a composer as well as a phenomenal fiddler. She began dancing and piano at age five and picked up the fiddle by the age of 8. She is now fiddling full time and her fiddling has taken to Mexico, Ireland and Scotland. Many of her compositions have been recorded by other musicians. She has even played for the Queen herself when she visited Halifax!
Kimberley Fraser has been a student of the fiddle since the age of six and took up Cape Breton piano accompaniment at age 9. She now teaches piano, fiddle and step dancing privately and at various workshops like that of the Ceilidh Trail School of Music.
She has performed at the Louisbourg Playhouse for the Spirit of the Island for several summers. She was also awarded with the Tic Butler Memorial Award for her contribution to Cape Breton music and culture. Fraser released her debut album entitled Heart Beind the Bow in 2000 and in 2002 appeared in a TV special “Sweet is the Melody which was aired on CBC as well as PBS in the US.
The Normaway’s Barn doors will be swinging open to welcome these talented musicians for a spectacular cultural evening of Cape Breton Music and dance. The show will begin at 8pm and admission is $8.00 for adults and $4 for students. Reserved seating is extra.