Fiddle Studies

From the parlours of the Maritimes to the outports of Newfoundland, from the communities of the Northern Cree and Métis peoples to the logging camps of Québec and Ontario, fiddling has been a central thread in the fabric of Canadian musical culture for centuries. Carleton University continues its tradition of academic and musical innovation in announcing the first post-secondary Fiddle Studies program in Canada. Located at the crossroads of Québécois, Ottawa Valley, Irish, and Scottish fiddle traditions and with a reputation as a leading centre for studies in Canadian music, Carleton is ideally situated to offer such a program and will draw upon the experience of some the finest practitioners in the country including Denis Lanctôt and April Verch.

Denis Lanctôt (www.denislanctot.com)
Denis Lanctôt is a “fiddler’s fiddler”. Born in Québec and residing in Ottawa, Denis is a highly accomplished self-taught musician and instructor who is equally at home as a fiddler or accompanist. Denis’ style draws upon influences from Québec (significantly, the legendary “Ti” Jean Carignan whom he knew and played with), Ireland (Sean McGuire), and Scotland (James Scott Skinner). In his youth Denis was highly successful in the competition circuit with over 100 awards. Denis has had the honour of performing as an ambassador of French Canadian fiddling at two World’s Fairs.

April Verch (aprilverch.com)
Born in the Ottawa Valley town of Pembroke, April Verch is among the most successful and accomplished fiddlers in Canada with over 400 fiddling and step-dancing prizes. Drawing upon a wide range of fiddling traditions April has been recording and touring the world with her band since 1998. She is also an accomplished clinician and the author of Originals by April Verch (2004) and more recently (with Brian Wiklund) The American Fiddle Method: Canadian Styles (2008).