As I was enjoying the Coast String Fiddlers concert at St. Bart's Church last Sunday, I was struck by what other fiddler fans must have noticed long ago. They're all grown up. Some of the group appeared at least a foot taller than at the last concert! In fact, the youngest is 13; the oldest is 21. Since the group's inception by Michelle Bruce in 1993, they have learned their music well, helped one another and grown close as friends. Soon, they'll move on with their musical lives. Fortunately, there's a whole new crew of little fiddlers who are being taught and mentored by the older ones. Stephen Beckmyer has grown into taking the musical lead on occasion. Long-time member Chelsea Sleep teaches the Squirts with Strings and another group, Fantastic Fiddlers under Five Feet, while Danny Hart teaches Fiddlers in the Middle. Five of them were missing from the group at Sunday's concert - they were otherwise occupied with the Vancouver Sun Run, sports, trips and activities. They're a busy lot, says musical director Ann Law, though they always manage to squeeze in the music.
Typically, they'll go mountain biking on a Friday night and still return in time for regular weekly rehearsal in Roberts Creek. But these last months have been particularly exhausting because they have been fundraising for an August visit to Scotland to play at the Aberdeen International Youth Festival. They'll be among the best youth talent in music, theatre and dance from all over the world meeting in Aberdeen Aug. 3 to 13. One of the highlight numbers of their Sunday concert, the tune they will take with them to Scotland, is an original composition by co-artistic director Heather Beckmyer using words from a traditional Sechelt Nation poem that gives thanks to the cedar tree. Until festival time, it's a rigorous schedule of performances.
This week, the group is on its way to Kelowna to appear for one night only in a concert series. Then it's back to the Coast for a June 19 Father's Day concert at Rockwood in Sechelt. Many will attend the intensive summer school of Celtic music and then perform at the gala concert on July 8.
The kids have memorized over 100 sets of music; their repertoire is extensive. Some of their most moving numbers are those written by Canadian musician Oliver Schroer. It was Schroer's initiative at summer fiddle camp that inspired some of them to step out into a new select group of nine, the NYWP. Along with fiddlers from Smithers, this group will perform this summer at the North Island Folk Festival. Law is in awe of the community support they've received so far in their fundraising efforts. "The service clubs, the churches, the Legions, individuals we play for our support," she says. So far, they have managed to raise enough money for airfares for the 18 musicians, but still need another $15,000 to cover accommodation and travel, even though all the performers will contribute funds of their own.
Perhaps one of their most successful fundraising items and another highlight of their musical journey has been producing their own CDs. The first CD, All Strings Considered, appeared in 2002 and became their ticket to acceptance at the Aberdeen Festival. It was followed by Look to the Mountains, released in 2004. To find out more, visit www.coaststringfiddlers.com.
