VICTORIA TRAD WEEKEND 2020
Trad weekend has it's own website and a new workshop series for 2020/2021.
For more info! Stay safe, stay healthy and keep fiddling!
A weekend of traditional music and fun for all ages and all levels! Trad Weekend starts with an epic concert of Canada's award winning top traditional musicians in one concert. This is the 2nd annual festival put on by Victoria's own Ivonne Hernandez. It brings together the best of the best in celtic, metis, bluegrass, folk and jazz from across Canada. Kicking it all off is a showcase mini-festival concert of all these amazing internationally acclaimed artists. For the trad music lover, this is a once in a lifetime show, not to be missed!
CONCERT Friday, Feb 14, 2020 - 7:30pm (doors at 7pm) - First Church of Christ, Scientist -1205 Pandora Ave, Victoria, BC
WORKSHOPS Saturday, Feb 15, 2020 - 9am to 5pm - Esquimalt United Church- 500 Admirals Rd
Friday Concert $25 adult / $20 Youth & Student
Combo Concert & Workshops: $140
Saturday Workshops: $125
Online Tickets and Registration:
Tickets available in person at Ivy's Bookshop and Long & McQuade Dec 16, 2019
My hope is that everyone who would like to participate and learn from these masters during the Trad Weekend can have that opportunity. If you need support please contact victoriatradweekend@gmail.com
FAMILY DANCE Saturday, Feb 15, 2020 7:30pm - Esquimalt United Church- 500 Admirals Rd
BY DONATION (Proceeds going to scholarships for tuition to trad weekend 2021
With dance caller Merrie Klazek-Schryer, you will be shown how to dance many different partner and group dances.
All ages welcome!
Workshop info
Learn from the master musicians all day Saturday at Esquimalt United Church, 500 Admirals Rd, Victoria, BC.
Workshops - Please sign up for your fiddle level and if you sign up for any electives (mando, guitar, singing, trad band), you will be put in the elective class and miss that block of fiddle class.
Beginner Fiddle (must be able to play 5+ tunes and learn by ear) - You will learn by ear a few tunes and technique to help you become a great fiddler!
Intermediate and Intermediate + Fiddle - You will learn tunes by ear, and techniques to help you play in different styles, and learn how to speed up your playing in group or performance settings.
Advanced Fiddle - You will learn new tunes in different styles, by ear. Talk about some of the history of the tunes, and stylistic ornamentation in tunes, and touch on practice ideas to hone your playing.
Beginner/Intermediate Guitar - You will learn some new chords and some rhythmic patterns common in trad fiddle accompaniment styles as well as some new technique ideas.
Advanced Guitar - You will learn different strumming and chord choices for accompanying trad tunes and styles. You may even learn to start picking a tune!
Banjo - You will start with the basic clawhammer bum-ditty stroke, simple chords and a scale in the key of G, and you will be introduced to pull-offs, hammer-ons, and slides and start a simple tune!
Singing - Everyone can sing! You will learn how to sing together in harmonies on some great traditional songs!
Trad Band - Learn how much fun it is to play in a big band and learn and arrange a piece together in an hour and a half! All levels and instruments welcome!
*Beginner Fiddlers, we don't want to overwhelm you, so you will have a half day of fiddling and in the afternoon singing (or guitar) and back to fiddling in Trad Band
*People interested in Guitar/Banjo/Singing may sign up for individual classes. Please email victoriatradweekend@gmail.com to register.
All workshops will be lead by ear. Music may or may not be available. Please bring a recording device!
Sample Schedule:
Workshop Registration: 2 steps
1) Registration for workshops: REGISTER for 2019 Trad Weekend
2) Pay for workshops (and/or concert):
Meet the Musicians
Pierre Schryer Pierre Schryer is one of Canada’s leading traditional fiddlers. A recipient of numerous titles and awards including Canadian Open Fiddle Champion, Grand Masters Champion, Violoneux Championnat, and North American Irish Fiddle Champion, Pierre truly captivates an audience with his energy and genuine warmth. His ability knows no bounds, covering styles from Irish, Scottish, Québecois, and Cape Breton to Canadian Old Time, American Swing and more. As leader of his self- titled group, Pierre Schryer Band built an international reputation as one of Canada’s most well respected traditional music ensembles by touring throughout Canada, the USA, Ireland, Europe and the UK since the mid-90's. Pierre has shared the stage with dozens of internationally renowned colleagues in the traditional music scene and has performed with numerous orchestras across Canada with his acclaimed Symphony Pops show. Of his six recordings released on his own label New Canadian Records,“Blue Drag” was nominated at the 2004 JUNO Awards for best Roots and Traditional (Group) Album of the Year, “Mélange” at the 2008 Canadian Folk Music Awards for Instrumental Solo Album of the Year, and “2 Worlds United”, a brilliant duo album with top Irish button accordionist Dermot Byrne, was distributed by Claddagh Records. Pierre’s talents extend beyond his musical abilities. An accomplished luthier and artist, he currently performs on one of his own violins and creates the cover art and design for his recordings. Pierre was the Artistic Director of the “Canadian Celtic Celebration,” a festival presented in Thunder Bay, Ontario for 16 years.
Adam Iredale-Gray - FIDDLE, BANJO, GUITAR
A founding member of indie-folk band Fish & Bird, Adam Iredale-Gray is a versatile guitarist and fiddler with deep roots in Irish traditional music and a commitment to innovation. Fiddler and Hardanger fiddle player Elise Boeur draws from the wells of Norwegian and Swedish fiddle music, melds in fistfuls of arcane influences, and emerges with a multi-faceted sound grounded in Nordic traditions. Usually seen touring with their JUNO nominated quintet Aerialists, this is an opportunity to hear their roots come out in a duo setting, as they dig into tunes on hardingfele, guitar, and raging twin fiddles.
Gabriel Dubreuil is a violinist, multi-instrumentalist and composer from Vancouver, Canada. He feels at home in a multitude of styles, including classical, folk, and jazz styles. He is an established violin teacher and directs the “Bad to the Bow” youth fiddle group, based on the Sunshine Coast of BC. Gabriel graduated Suma Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music (Boston, USA) in 2016.
Gabriel is the bandleader and manager for Early Spirit (Early Spirit Productions) and the Gabriel Dubreuil Band. He also records and performs with several Vancouver and Toronto based bands and artists. Early Spirit's debut album 'UnRelated' (2018), features Natalie MacMaster, Geoffrey Kelly, Leonard Podolak and Michelle Campagne. Gabriel's debut album 'Back to Back Bay' was released in 2016. Gabriel frequently works as a session musician. He has shared the stage and recorded with artists such as the X-Ambassadors, Bruce Molsky, Darryl Anger, Emely Estefan, Valdy, Dervish, Del Mccoury Band, and many more.
Daniel Lapp - FIDDLE, GUITAR & PIANO
Victoria's own favourite multi-instrumentalist, Daniel is in high demand as both a performer, session musician and teacher. Head of the newly founded 'contemporary music' program at the Victoria Conservatory of Music through Camosun College, Daniel also has lead the community 'Joy of Life choir' for 20 years, adult folk band 'Folkestra', and for 25 years, the BC Fiddle orchestra. Growing up in Prince George with a strong old time fiddle tradition, Daniel honed his trad skills on fiddle, piano and guitar and has even carried that over to his many other instruments like the Trumpet! Daniel received a Queen's Diamond Jubilee "Service" Award, and in 2013 was the recipient of the Canadian Folk Music Association "Innovator" Award for his contribution to Canada's fiddle culture.
JUNO nominated fiddler Elise Boeur ties together diverse influences with a deceptively light touch – her distinctive, silvery tone belongs to a world of its own. Whether deftly filling the role of fiddler, violist, or hardanger fiddle player in a wide variety of projects, or playing her own gleefully outfield, Nordic-influenced “imaginary folktunes”, her playing is unmistakable.
Oliver Swain - VOCALS, BASS & BANJO
Has been a celebrated musician for years, held in high regard in acoustic and folk music styles for both his astonishing instrumental and vocal abilities, though he seldom gives the genre a fully traditional treatment. JUNO & WCMA nominated, winner of multiple "M" and Times Colonist music awards.
Ivonne Hernandez - FIDDLE & STEP DANCE (Organizer)
One of Victoria's most in demand performer, teacher, arranger and session fiddler and most decorated musician, Ivonne has been one of Canada's best fiddlers for many years now and her mantle proves it - 2017 JUNO award winner, 2014 & 2012 Canadian Folk Music award winner, 2014 & 2012 Western Canadian Music award winner, 5X Grand North American Fiddle Champion.
One of the busiest guitarists in Victoria, Charlie was a top jazz guitarist following in the footsteps of his legendary uncle, Oliver Gannon until being introduced to trad music in 2014. Charlie has since become engulfed in the trad genre and regularly performs around Victoria with many local fiddlers & bands. His experience growing up playing jazz, folk and rock has shaped his trad accompaniment style that makes him arguabley one of the best in Canada.
Coastline - FIDDLE BAND (FIDDLE, CELLO, GUITAR, PIANO)
Coastline is a string ensemble comprised of BC's top young musicians ranging from ages 15-22, coached and mentored by internationally acclaimed fiddler, Ivonne Hernandez. With intricate arrangements of traditional, original and contemporary fiddle tunes from around the world, Coastline is pushing boundaries and always having a great time whenever they play. From the farthest island on the West Coast of Canada comes a new tradition that is Coastline!