The
Vermont Fiddle Orchestra
is
a non-profit community orchestra of musicians who come from a
variety of musical backgrounds and share a common
interest in the performance of traditional fiddle music.
The orchestra plays learned by ear as well as
arrangements of traditional tunes made mostly by our
fiddling composer, John Mowad, that come from a various
styles including Celtic, French Canadian, Southern U.S.,
and New England -- with a special
selection of tunes written by Vermont fiddlers.
The purpose of
the orchestra is to provide a place for musicians to
learn all the basics of performing and musicianship,
both in the traditional manner (learning by ear) and
using sheet music. The graduated parts allow musicians
of various ability levels to play together in harmony.
Our community-based orchestra meets Mondays in
Montpelier
and performs
occasionally in convalescent centers and at community
events under the direction of fiddler Sarah Hotchkiss.
There are three
sessions yearly: fall, spring, and summer, so
participants can pick and choose any or all of the
sessions. Each
session culminates with a performance with one of
Vermont's prominent fiddlers as soloist. We have
performed with such noted Vermont fiddlers as Adam
Boyce, Pete Sutherland, Scott Campbell, Ron West,
Spencer Lewis, Sarah Blair, Susannah Blachly, Franklin
Heyburn, John Mowad and Neill Rossi (in order of
performance). We also featured one of Vermont's finest
Highland pipers, Ian Mac Harg, Pipe Major of the
Montpelier based Catamount Pipe Band.
Since this is a
training orchestra, there is a small fee per session
(currently $50 for an entire session). Other instruments
such as guitars, mandolins, banjos, accordions, flutes,
penny whistles, and folk percussion are welcome as well
(intermediate players by audition—limited
spaces).
The Vermont
Fiddle Orchestra is truly the “People’s Orchestra”
in that no audition is required for fiddles, violas,
cellos, or basses and players of all levels are welcome.
Some of our members begin after less than a year
of training, and some of our players are frequent
winners at fiddle contests.
So dust off your fiddle (or rent or buy one
locally!) and join us!
There is no limit to the number of fiddles
allowed—the more the merrier!
The Vermont Fiddle Orchestra, Billings Farm 25th Anniversary, 2008 
