Category: Music

Headwaters Music & Arts hosts Michigan fiddler and step dancer Carrie Dlutkowski for a concert and a series of workshops providing an overview of the history, style and repertoire of one of three styles of fiddle music: Scottish, French-Canadian, and Metis. With one workshop for ages 5-11, the rest of the workshops are for beginner to advanced fiddle players ages 12 to adult. Participants can choose to attend one workshop or all four sessions. Participants will gain an appreciation of the rich cultural histories behind these musical styles and begin building a repertoire of tunes while exploring the stylistic nuances that make different kinds of fiddle music unique. Sunday's Step Dance workshop is open to all; it complements the fiddle workshops but does not require fiddle playing experience.

Thursday, October 24th
• 6-7 pm – Fiddlin’ Around is a free opportunity for students age 5-11 with any level of playing experience. On Thursday October 24th, 6-7pm, students can bring their violin or fiddle and join fiddler and step dancer Carrie Dlutkowski as the group explores tunes that are adaptable and creative. Students will be able to take the tunes with them as they can be played alone or in a group, by people of any level of experience, and are meant to be crafted by the musicians themselves. Students will develop the confidence to take the tunes home and “play with” them! Students should be accompanied by a guardian. Adults are encouraged to bring a device for recordings which will be useful in future practice.

Friday, October 25
• 6-9 pm Scottish Fiddle Music $25

Saturday, October 26
• 9 am-noon French-Canadian Fiddle Music $25

• 1-4 pm Métis Fiddle Music $25

Sunday, October 27
• 1-3 pm Introduction to Ottawa Valley Step Dancing, Students will develop an understanding of the basics of Ottawa Valley step dancing, and of the history that influenced its evolution as a dance form. No fiddle playing experience required. $10 fee

As a classical musician, Dlutkowski has performed in various solo, symphony orchestra and opera orchestra, music theater, and chamber ensemble settings. An accomplished folk musician, she has played in concerts, festivals, interpretive programs, for dances, and on the air. Dlutkowski is also a National Park Interpretive Ranger at Grand Portage National Monument, managing one of the park’s main interpretive locations, the re-created Ojibwe Village.

Carrie Dlutkowski's enthusiasm for the fiddle music of Canada led her to explore its history, with a focus on the development of Scottish, French-Canadian and Métis (Native/French/Scottish) fiddle styles in the 18th century. Each of these cultural groups claims a strong musical tradition. Carrie offers musical and historical presentations, workshops and performances that take listeners on an exploration of how these styles of music blended and developed through cross-cultural interaction. Dlutkowski is a step dancer in the Ottawa Valley style. As a classical musician, Carrie Dlutkowski has performed in various solo, symphony orchestra and opera orchestra, music theater, and chamber ensemble settings. As a folk musician, she has played in concerts, festivals, interpretive programs, for dances, and on the air.

Brian Miller fell in love with Irish traditional music 25 years ago in the crowd at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, moved from his northern Minnesota hometown of Bemidji to St. Paul and has since become one of the most sought-after musicians in North America’s Irish music scene. Brian has toured widely throughout the US and Canada with bands including Bua and The Lost Forty.

Norah Rendell is a singer, flute player and whistle player that specializes in the traditional folk songs and dance music of Ireland and Canada. For the past 15 years, she has toured internationally with several ensembles including seven years as lead singer and flute player for the award-winning group, The Outside Track. She has also performed with the Two Tap Trio (St. Paul), the Máirtín de Cógáin Project, the Canadian folk string quartet called the Fretless and Paddy O’Brien’s Doon Ceili band in Minnesota. In the past five years years, Norah has built a reputation for herself as a solo artist.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.