Band contributions: Fiddle

Experience: My family loves to play music, so I’ve being singing and playing with them longer than I can even remember. I started taking piano lessons in 1st grade, but I dropped out in 4th grade after seeing Alison Krauss play the fiddle. I started playing the violin in my sad little Sauk Trail Elementary orchestra. My practicing was so painful for my parents that they made me take lessons with an incredible fiddle player named Chris Wagoner. I’ve been fiddling ever since. I’ve been so lucky to have been given opportunities to play with great musicians throughout my life so far, whether it be bluegrass, old-timey, jazz, Sephardic, Klezmer, ambient, or whatever else comes along. Covering John Mellencamp is a completely new experience for me, and I’m loving it.

How I first got into playing music:  In my family, it’s inevitable that you’ll at least try to play some kind of an instrument. My sisters and I were immersed in music constantly as we were growing up. My dad especially loves all types of music, but bluegrass and old-timey are his faves, so that’s what we play and listen to the most. I always loved how vocal and expressive fiddles are in music-almost as much as a voice can be, I think. The first time I saw a really good fiddle player in person, I knew there wasn’t another instrument I’d rather play.

Bands/Artists that have most influenced me:  My family and musical friends are huge influences for me. Eva Cassiday is my absolute favorite singer, but Alison Krauss is up there, too. Toots Thielman, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennet, Vince Guaraldi, James Brown, Oscar Peterson, Curtis Mayfield, Earth Wind & Fire, Kool and the Gang, and Simon and G Funk are some of my favorites to listen to. The Cox Family, The Whites, The Louvin Brothers, Alison Krauss and Union station all sing the tight kinds of harmonies that I love. It’s hard to narrow it down, but Stephane Grappelli, Casey Dreisen, Stuart Duncan, Kenny Baker, Darol Anger, Kevin Burke, Johny Cunningham, Bruce Molsky, Alasdair Fraiser, Natalie MacMaster, Johnny Gimble are probably my favorite fiddle players.

Other bands/artists played with:  Frail By Design, The Krause Family Band, Salaam Shalom, a few independent recording projects

Other music-related accomplishments:  I got voted “most musical” senior in my high school class-does that count?

What I do when not rehearsing or performing:   I’m in my third year at Edgewood College studying Art Therapy. Painting and Drawing are my favorite mediums, but I really like sculpture and printmaking, too. Other than that, I pretty much just work lame jobs to pay for college.

Favorite Pastimes that aren't music-related:   My favorite pastimes are the ones spent with my closest friends and family. Being with people who are so funny is the best. I love hearing funny stories-and telling them if I’ve got them. My grandma has a really pretty cottage that she lives in all summer and I’ve had a lot of really fun times there with family and friends.

Person I Most Admire:  This is an impossible question to answer. How could anyone pick one favorite?

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