Colin Adjun | Kugluktuk, NU | http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=51015296009

Qristina Bachand | Victoria, BC | A very charming and talented fiddler. I’d describe her style as solid but tasteful, expressive, sensual and with a firm technical foundation. Besides delivering an excellent musical contribution, I’ve witnessed some of her other, personal qualities during sessions and performances. She manages to show her enthusiasm and inspire other musicians with her great smile, stamps on the floor and unique, powerful arranged sets of mostly traditional tunes. It’s a great pleasure to watch her bring the music alive, inspire others and capture one’s full attention with tunes like Kathryn’s castle or Wistful Daydreamer. I hope to see a lot more of her and her brother Quinn in the near future. | Qristina Bachand is an expressive fiddler with a personal style that is vibrant and full of energy. She makes old tunes sound new. Every performance is exciting and fresh. Along with her incredibly talented brother Quinn, Qristina holds the key to the future of Canadian fiddling. | Qristina Bachand is by far my favorite Canadian fiddler. She is an amazing musician and a fantastic performer. | Amazing talent, one to watch for sure. | I have watched Qristina grow as a fiddler, a performer and as an inspiration to many young fiddlers. She is a delightful young woman, full of life and love for the traditional music she and her brother perform. Qristina ranks among the very best in Canadian fiddling. http://www.qbachand.com

Jean-François Branchaud | St-Côme, QC | Trad québécois

André Brunet | Épiphanie, QC | http://andrebrunet.qc.ca | trad québécois | Voir le sourire d’André lorsqu’il joue est un réel plaisir, ce jeune homme a donné le goût à d’autres jeunes de s’intéresser à l’instrument.Il n’est pas que virtuose il est altruiste et se consacre à faire de la musique pour des personnes handicapées intellectuelles . On l’a connu très actif au sein de la Bottine souriante aujourd’hui il est enseignant. Bravo André!

Andrew Bryan | Hamilton, ON | http://www.poorangus.com | Freestyle, celtic, whatever he needs to do… This guy not only kills as a member of Poor Angus, but plays blues, jazz, country, and his own very distinct style of fiddle that you sort of have to hear to get. He rocks!

Bob Burchill | London, ON | http://www.bobburchill.com | South Western Ontario Celtic | Raised in fiddle music in the Dublin, ON area, steeped in east-coast tradition and has a great interest in passing it on to inspired students and audiences alike.

Calvin Cairns | Victoria, BC | http://www.calvincairns.com | He’s got such a wide range of styles – Eastern European, Gypsy Jazz, Swing, Traditional Celtic… and is able to fuse them all into such a great sound.

Jean Carignan | Levis, QC | Pour moi, Jean Carignan a été la plus grande source d’inspiration au violon. J’ai beaucoup écouté French Canadian Fiddle Songs

Shane Cook | Dorchester, ON | http://www.odyssey.on.ca/~shanecook/home.htm | Canadian Old Time, Bluegrass, Irish, Celtic, Texan Swing, French Canadian, etc. | Shane is perhaps the finest Fiddler in the country. He effortlessly executes, sometimes unthinkable “licks” and improvisations in very difficult tunes. Other players can perhaps do these things, but not with the grace and accuracy, along with the incredible feel that shane can seemingly do at will. He started as an Old Time player in the ways of Don Messer and Graham Townsend, but has progressed to be an incredible Swing player, which is evidence of his US Grand National Fiddle Championship, in Weiser, Idaho. He is rightfully one of the lead fiddlers in the celtic group “Bowfire”. He stands out even this group of the best fiddlers from across the country. He is a 3 time Canadian Grand Masters Champion, and 3 time Canadian Open Champion. There is nobody I have ever seen with a bow arm like Shane. He has the power, to go along with the smooth and clean sound to be considered nothing other than the very best. Not only can he play many different styles with ease, but he has the rare ability to “flip the switch” and make himself sound like a traditionally Irish, Canadian, or Bluegrass player. It is simply unbelievable how he is able to control his own sound, yet still be able to portray and keep the “traditional sound” of many other styles. Shane is a master of many styles and from everybody in the fiddle world, especially from Ontario, should believe that Shane Cook is indeed the best, and most dynamic fiddler (not violinist) in the country.

Dwayne Cote | St. Peter’s, NS | http://www.bluwebsolutions.ca/dwaynecote | Cape Breton | Coming from Nova Scotia, it’s hard to narrow down the list of fiddlers to just one, but I thought I’d put a vote in for one of my favourites who’s not as well-known outside of the region, Dwayne Cote from St. Peter’s. Not only is he a talented fiddler, he possesses a remarkable ear and can incorporate elements of classical and jazz into his playing without missing a beat. I’ve always thought he has a “phonographic memory” and can remember just about any tune he’s heard, and can turn it to his own advantage. He can tear through the challenging Tullochgorum like a hot knife through butter and even Ashley MacIsaac tips his hat to him. He has to be heard live to be believed.

Alyssa & Nicholas Delbaere-Sawchuk | Toronto, ON | Metis and Native Canadian fiddle music | They will perform at the Vancouver Olympic Aboriginal Cultural Pavilion in February 2010 | http://www.metisfiddlerquartet.com

Andy Desjarlis | MB

Serena Edes | Gibsons, BC | http://www.myspace.com/serenaeadesmusic | From traditional to new acoustic, latin and even classical. Fun, driving and down to earth; amazing fiddler and a humble musical mentor.

Jaron Freeman- Fox | Toronto, ON | He is a diverse and complex musician that takes the fiddle to where no fiddle has gone before!

Karine Gallant | St-Timothy, PE | trad acadienne

Pascal Gemme | Farnham, QC | http://genticorum.com | trad québécois | groupe Genticorum

Daniel Gervais | AB | http://www.kenoseekitchenparty.ca/daniel.html | Former nominee, Young Performer of the Year; continues to perform nationally and internationally as well as record

David Greenberg | Halifax, NS | http://davidgreenbeg.ca | Cape Breton, early Scottish styles

Denis Harrington | Renfrew, ON | I’ve been to many gigs in the area over the past summer and thouroughly enjoyed his playing.

Ivonne Hernandez | Victoria, BC | http://www.ivonnehernandez.com | She’s a great Canadian fiddler/stepdancer and plays many different styles; a 5-time North American and BC Grand Champion.

Jerry Holland | Cape Breton, NS | http://jerryholland.com | Jerry Holland was one of the most influental players of our times,inspiring at least two generations of fiddlers both in Canada, and across the pond. His technic was at once strongly agressive yet,there was was a senuous, haunting vulnabilty in it that is rarely heard, or duplicated, he could make his fiddle growl and whisper at the same time! His countless tunes have become standards world wide. Yet Jerry remained an increadibly generous and humble man,who took great plesure in sharing his music with others,happily spending time with his countless friends, and admirers. Like the great Kim Vincent, I know as time goes by, more people will come to realize what a unique talent he was,and what a major contribution he has made to Celtic music.

Adam Iredale-Gray | Victoria, BC | Trad | Adam is an inspiration to hear and watch. His love of the fiddle is impossible to miss and is entirely contagious. He doesn’t shy away from trying anything and everything with any instrument but when he picks up the fiddle you can tell he’s in his true element. He has contributed to a number of musical projects over the years (including releasing something like 4 albums before the age of 20!) Currently, as part of the exciting “folk” duo Fish & Bird he shares his incredible widely-cultivated talent to a variety of audiences large and small across Canada and beyond. One just can’t help but dance in their seat and smile to see and hear him stomp his way around the stage in his socked feet while he plays. | http://www.fishandbird.ca

Roy Johnstone | Argyle Shore, PE |http://www.royjohnstone.com | Celtic, blues, jazz

Daniel Lapp | Victoria, BC | http://www.daniellapp.com | Daniel brings a virtuosity, driving creativity, generosity and abundant joie de vivre to his playing that captivates audiences, and certainly enriched my days living in Victoria. His dedication to folk music, through collecting and archiving BC folk fiddle tunes, and educating young fiddlers, just adds to the positive impact he has had on Canadian fiddling.

Anne Lederman | Toronto, ON | http://annelederman.com | She went into Dauphin, Manitoba and lived with the Métis, a girl born and raised in Winnipeg, MB. She learned Métis fiddling; teaches fiddling at Toronto University. Produced tapes, records, CDs; spreads childrens’ folksongs about Canada; lives and breathes folk music; a great folk legend fiddler of Canada!

Amy Lounder | Halifax, NS | http://smokincontraband.com | Bluegrass plus plus; amazing fiddler, getting better and better. Classically trained, and it shows in the quality of the sound and the control of the bow. Age 29 10 years(ages 5-10) classical violin training with the late Jean Fraser of Halifax plus experience with The Rapson family and the Nova Scotia Junior Symphony Orchestra. This classical background supplied Amy with a special use of the bow. All of that has led to her career in Organic farming in the US and Canada (currently Nova Scotia). The violin became a fiddle when she realized her true love in folk music with the Smokin’ Contra Band and their monthly contra dances in Halifax. CBC and Glen Meisner in Halifax have given very much assistance to Amy and the Band. In addition to their regular performances, they are about to (Dec.2009) perform on VIA Rail on their trip to Montreal from Halifax. Amy has blossomed not only as a folk style fiddler but also as a singer with the Band. Facebook and YouTube offer many examples of the “Smokin’ Contra Band and Amy Lounder.

Ashley MacIsaac | Windsor, ON | Cape Breton style | Easily one of the best and most charismatic performers of fiddle music anywhere! |  http://ashleymacisaac.net

Lisa MacIsaac | Toronto, ON | http://www.madisonviolet.com/main.html | Folk | When she plays the world stands still…

Roma McMillan | Ottawa, ON | Ottawa Valley style | Roma was considered the ‘Queen of Ottawa Valley Fiddling’. She played classical violin in the 1920’s and started playing old-timey in the 40’s. In her later years, she became a teacher and mentor of younger fiddlers. When she was 85, she stopped teaching at the Ottawa Folklore Centre because it interfered with her social life…fiddling. The Folklore Centre has presented the Roma McMillan fiddle scholarship annually since 1989. Roma presented the trophy and performed every year until her death in 2008.

Béatrix Méthé | Ste-Béatrix, QC | http://dentdelion.net, http://lespoulesacolin.com | Trad, folk | The talented daughter of fiddler Claude Méthé, she studies classical violin and plays/tours with folk-trad groups Dentdelion and Les Poules à Colin

Claude Méthé | Ste-Béatrix, QC | http://claudemethe.com, http://dentdelion.net | Trad québécois | groupes Dentdelion, Ni Sarpe Ni Branche; ex-membre Le Rêve du Diable, Entourloupe, Manigance, Jeter le Pont.

Nellie Quinn | Victoria, BC | http://www.myspace.com/nelliequinnfiddler | trad folk
Ivonne Hernandez | Victoria | http://www.ivonnehernandez.com | Canadian style | She’s a great fiddler/stepdancer and plays many different styles and has been the North American and BC grand fiddle champion five times.

Oliver Schroer | Toronto, ON | http://oliverschroer.com | I’m thinking so much about Oliver Schroer… what a wonderful fiddler. Hymns and Hers, Camino, and all the others albums surely have classic status already. What a wonderful, inventive approach to the fiddle he had!

Louis Schryer | Chapeau, QC | Mr. Schryer is my math & music teacher and I think my community is very privileged to have such great talent so close to home.

John Showman | Toronto, ON | http://johnshowman.com | Bluegrass, old-time | Since I’m submitting myself, I can say with certainty that my survival instincts in general make me MY favorite fiddle player by a considerable margin. I not only put food in my own belly and earn a living for myself (it\’s been 13 years) but I occasionally find myself playing notes that make my head ring in a very positive way (probably because the fiddle is so close to it while I play).

Christina Smith | St. John’s, NL | http://jeanhewsonandchristinasmith.com

April Verch | Innisfil, ON | http://aprilverch.com | Fabulous Ottawa Valley fiddler, stepdancer and singer.

Kim Vincent | Toronto, ON | Irish | Kim has been one of the most influential fiddlers in this area. Originally from PEI, he has his own unique style. He is amazingly musical and captivating to watch, and is extremely willing to play with any skill level and will spend time showing newer players stuff. Unfortunately Kim is suffering from terminal lung cancer and is at the moment living with his daughter in the Ottawa Valley. Feel free to contact me and I can put you in contact with others who can vouch for him.

Calvin Vollrath | AB | http://www.calvinvollrath.com | teacher, mentor, recording artist, producer, general inspiration to fiddle players of all styles and ages

Besnik Yzeiri | Windsor, ON | Besnik plays it all – really, ALL. Besnik is principally a violinist in the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, however I am honoured to know him as a fellow musician, he plays with my band “Same Latitude As Rome” whenever it fits with his schedule. He’s a very busy guy! Besnik is a classically trained musician who simply plays at another level from the rest of us mortals. He plays all styles, and naturally is a great studio musician because he hears instantly what the song needs. Besides being a great musician, he is a really nice person, who willingly shares his love of music generously with others.