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Our
Fiddle and Step Dance |
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| Fiddle Instructors | |
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Karen Reed Camp Director and Instructor Karen Reed was born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario where she began her career at the age of four. At age six, Karen started competing in Fiddle Contests across the Province of Ontario. During her fiddling career, she won numerous awards. Some of the highlights include:
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12 & Under Canadian Champion Karen maintained the position of being one of Canada's top fiddlers during her years in competition and now continues to be available as a fiddle judge, instructor, recording artist, and performer. She has also started the “Karen Reed trio” and not only performs in concerts but also serves as a dance band. |
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Cindy (Thompson) Butineau Cindy's electrifying performances have earned her a reputation as one of Canada's premiere combination fiddle player/stepdancers. A former national Canadian stepdance champion and winner of numerous fiddle awards, she performs in her own inimitable style, full of spontaneity, fun and musical excellence. There is something for everyone in Cindy Thompson's fiddling as she draws from Irish, Scottish, Cajun, Country, Bluegrass and Canadian Old Tyme fiddle styles. Originally from the Ottawa Valley, Cindy comes from a musical family. She started step-dancing at the age of six and fiddling when she was twelve. Largely self-taught, Cindy began under the influence of her grandpa, Robert Buck. She began experimenting herself, improvising to create a certain sound or flavour in a tune. In her teens, Thompson criss-crossed the country winning over judges and audience alike. Cindy won Canadian step-dancing championships and numerous fiddle awards; including those at the North American Fiddle Contests in Shelburne, Ontario. From an early age her performing skills were recognized and she participated in major festivals across Canada. Cindy has a long history of memorable performances including The Tommy Hunter Show and The Rita MacNeil show on CBC TV. She has also performed live concerts nationally on CBC Radio - Canada and concert appearances with Symphony Nova Scotia, the Thunder Bay Symphony and also a highly successful performance with the Huronia Symphony in Barrie, ON. Cindy's two recordings "Through the Gates" and "I can feel it in the air" have both received critical acclaim and airplay on local, national and international media including radio stations across Holland, France, Australia, The Netherlands, Ireland and England. Cindy has also received positive and enthusiastic Cd reviews in such media as Sing Out! and Dirty Linen magazines. Cindy now spends the majority of her time as a fiddle and stepdance instructor in her home in Perkinsfield, Ontario. She is also well known as a fiddle teacher at various music camps including “Orangeville Fiddle Camp”. Wherever she goes, Cindy's fun, enthusiastic approach builds an amazing rapport with her audience. Her contagious energy and superb technique take listeners on a musical adventure. |
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Celina DiCecca Celina DiCecca was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario and has studied the violin since the age of 8. At 10 years old, she attended her first year at the Orangeville Fiddle and Step Dance Camp, where she was first introduced to Old-Time Fiddle music and has never looked back since. Celina has been performing both classical and fiddle music for over ten years and has been a member of various bands and musical groups throughout the years. A recent graduate from The University of Western Ontario with an honors degree in Music Education, she has been teaching the fiddle for over 6 years. Celina is thrilled to return for her 6th year as an instructor at camp. She has also been a fiddle judge at the Western Fair Fiddle Contest for the past 3 years. Currently residing in London, Ontario, she is teaching the fiddle, performing live as much as possible and working on original music for her first album. |
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Chad Wolfe Chad Wolfe is pleased to be returning to the Orangeville Fiddle & Step Dance Camp. In his competitive years, he won many honours on the circuit including the NE American Open Fiddle title in 2001, and the Canadian Open Stepdance title in 2002. He has recorded fiddle CDs and has appeared on stages across Canada and abroad as a dancer and musician- Highlights include: principal dance roles in Memories of a Don Messer Jubilee Canadian tour, the Mirvish production: The Needfire, in Toronto, and guest appearances with Natalie MacMaster. He is also in demand as a teacher at workshops and camps and has been running a successful fiddle and stepdance school since 1996 in North Bay, and since 2006 in Ottawa. |
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Dan Mighton Starting to play just 9 years ago, Dan’s love for fiddle quickly took him to the ‘top of the charts’ in the competition world! By the time he turned 15, Dan had placed first in many 18 & under competitions. Last year, at 17, Dan realized his dream of winning the Open Class at Southwestern Ontario, Ontario Open, and Sturgeon Falls. Dan has become a much sought after musician, being called upon as a back-up fiddler for dance bands, coordinating his own shows, and to teach at camp, individual instruction, and workshops, etc. He has performed in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, parts of the U.S., as well as throughout Ontario. He has produced two c.d.’s, and is very proud to be competing for the first time this year at the Grand Master’s. |
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Patrick Wieler Patrick started playing the violin at the age of 5 by learning to play classical music through the Suzuki method. At age 7, he discovered fiddle music when he was brought to the Shelburne fiddle contest as a spectator. Over the following year, he turned his attention to fiddle music and was soon competing on the Shelburne stage himself. His love for fiddle music continued to grow throughout the years as he attended camps, including Orangeville Fiddle and Stepdance Camp, and regularly competed in Fiddle contests. Some of Patrick’s more recent achievements include placing 1st at the 2007 Pembroke Fiddle Championships, 3rd in the 2008 Shelburne Canadian Championship, and 4th at the 2008 invitational Canadian Grand Masters. Along with sister Erika, he is a 3-time Canadian Duet Champion and 3 time Pembroke Duet Champion. Patrick promotes the tradition of Canadian Old Time fiddling through his support of the competitions, performances, and fiddle instruction. |
| Step Dance Instructors | |
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Sarah Robinson Sarah Robinson, of Alton Ontario, has been stepdancing since the age of 8. She has grown up performing and competing around Ontario and Quebec and received numerous titles along the way. By the age of 16, Sarah started instructing at Chanda’s School of Dance in Orangeville and has also taught at numerous workshops, both in Canada and the US. Some highlighted events include performing with Natalie McMaster, Leahy, John McDermott, and Canadian Fiddle Champions Shane Cook and Mark Sullivan. Sarah is the current 2008 Ontario Open Stepdance Champion and the 2008 Canadian Open Stepdance Champion. Sarah is currently in her third year at the University of Guelph majoring in history. |
| Piano & Guitar Chording | |
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Jake Charron We will be offering accompaniment lessons on guitar and keys by one of Canada's most sought after accompanists - Jake Charron. So bring your guitar and keyboard. |
We are very proud of these instructors and they have been very helpful in the development of the Orangeville Fiddle and Step Dance Camp. Their dedication to helping others learn and the preservation of our heritage in old time music is appreciated by all who meet them.
