It was a great surprise and tremendous honour for me to be recognized last night by my old Niagara fiddle club. The Niagara Old Tyme Fiddlers Association awarded me a scholarship in memory of our friend Elvera Ciazynski for my commitment to and pursuit of traditional fiddle music.
Here is local media on the recognition. From the St Catharines Standard “The art of the fiddle” and from Niagara This Week “Niagara Old Tyme Fiddlers Association encouraging new players“.
I have always enjoyed playing at the club and I remember those first times on stage when I was just 8 years old. Club members have always been encouraging and I am fortunate to have them as my friends.
Here I am playing with two good friends — Mike Mattie and Wally Knash.
Many thanks to Beth Bartley — club member and my first fiddle teacher — and to all those club members who made this scholarship possible.