A lively fiddle jam session will take place this Sunday, Feb. 9, at 2 pm at the Manitoba Conservatory of Music & Arts (MCMA), featuring Irish and Celtic-inspired tunes.
Led by Grandmaster Fiddle Champion and University of Manitoba fiddle instructor Patti Kusturok, the session promises to be a fun-filled afternoon of music making. All levels of fiddlers are welcome, and sheet music will be provided.
Kusturok is a fiddling legend. She won the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship in 1994, 1995 and 1996 and has received multiple awards from the National Association of Country Arts. She has toured internationally and has been inducted into the North American Fiddlers Hall of Fame, the Manitoba Fiddle Association Hall of Fame and the International Music Camp Fiddle Hall of Fame.
Sunday’s session offers a rare opportunity to learn from one of the best fiddlers in the business.
Fiddling has been Kusturok’s lifelong passion. She plays in a variety of styles, including Cajun, Métis, Texas-style and Celtic. Her journey began early.
“I was four years old when I started playing,” she says. “My dad played a little bit of fiddle, and for some reason, he had a lot of fiddles. We didn’t have a piano, and his words were always, ‘Girls usually play piano, but we have violins in the house, so you’re going to play the violin.’”
Kusturok quickly fell in love with fiddling, though she faced challenges. “My classical teacher wouldn’t teach me fiddle tunes, so my parents moved me to another teacher who let me play the fiddle,” she recalls.
The upcoming jam session is not only an opportunity to develop fiddling skills but also to connect with fellow musicians. “It’s just supposed to be 100% fun,” Kusturok says. “Even just sitting in a room with other people playing the tunes and absorbing—that’s how you learn. It’s all about building a community of fiddle players. No matter where you go, there are different pockets of people you can connect with.”
Beginners and advanced players alike will benefit from Kusturok’s guidance. “Beginner players might not have the technical skills to play the tune, so I give them little scale lines they can play behind the melodies,” she explains.
She understands firsthand the importance of mentorship, crediting Manitoba fiddling legend Reg Bouvette with helping her hone her skills. “I used to go to legions when I was 16 or 17 to watch Reg Bouvette play, and he’d call me up on stage to play for a dance. How can you get better experience than that?”
With a focus on camaraderie and fun, Kusturok hopes the jam session will inspire attendees. “I hope they have a solid introduction to fiddle music and maybe become part of our Winnipeg fiddle community.”
The Celtic and Irish fiddle jam takes place this Sunday, Feb. 9, at 2 p.m. at the Manitoba Conservatory of Music & Arts. Great friends, great music, and the chance to learn from a fiddling legend—what more could a fiddler ask for?
For more details on the MCMA’s fiddle jam session, click here.
