Brandon University
"something special"
The Fantasy Fiddlers
Please direct inquiries to Mitchell Howanyk at 720-6960 or Allison Granger at 726-9205
Programs - Ensembles - Fantasy Fiddlers
To fiddle or to fool around?
That was the question, as Suzuki students at Brandon University waited
in the halls for their next lesson in 1992.
Pretty soon, those students began foolin' around with fiddlin', They found themselves jamming in the hall together on a few old familiar tunes they heard grandpa, uncle or someone else playing from home or the "old country." It was a lively diversion from the classical training they were pursuing at the university.
During
this same period, a Suzuki teacher from Winnipeg, by the name of Bernie
"Cameron" Dick, was employed by the university to come to Brandon to
assist with the overload of lessons each week.
Bernie had recently returned from a European holiday.
While in Scotland and Ireland, the Celtic and Irish tunes played in the
pubs captivated him. He joined
the ranks and learned a few of the traditional tunes.
Much to his surprise, one night he heard some of those same
tunes whaling down the university hall.
Bernie joined the students and together they started jamming for fun
and exchanging tunes. The
combination of music, atmosphere and camaraderie suited them just right.
After a year or two, a few others joined in until today they are an
international group of master musicians known as…
THE FANTASY FIDDLERS.
The Fantasy
Fiddlers are students from Manitoba and North Dakota based out of
Brandon University. They range in
age from 12 to 19 years old. From
the beginning they agreed to try and perform the songs the way they felt they
would have been played in the last century.
Their efforts have focused on preserving our rich musical heritage –
that of old-time fiddling.
Their first "performance" occurred in 1993,
when the Grand Valley Senior Citizens' Center invited the fiddlers to
entertain them with a concert at Christmas time.
Shortly thereafter, the Calgary Fiddlers visited Brandon for a show and
The Fantasy Fiddlers were asked
to play on stage with them. It
was a real honor for the fiddlers, and when asked, “What is the name of your
group?” Allison Granger, one of
the fiddlers, at the spur of the moment came up with “The Fantasy Fiddlers!”. The
name stuck.
After that, the group was invited to perform for a
variety of events, and found that the old-time fiddle songs still brought
smiles and enjoyment to modern audiences.
Allison Granger assumed leadership of the group in 1994 when Bernie
Dick left and continued until January of 1997, when she was invited to go on a
world tour with a fiddle group from Calgary, Alberta, known as “Barrage”.
Mitchell Grobb of Carberry and Allison's dad, Brian
Granger, took over as co-leaders and were responsible for selecting and
teaching the new tunes. At this time, Mitchell was 13 years old and the
youngest Open Manitoba Fiddle Champion in history. Mitchell Grobb as of the
year 2003 is currently traveling with “Barrage”. Many of the other
students had also amassed a long list of music achievements as fiddle
champions all across southern Canada and North Dakota.
The fiddlers made their first recording on stage at Brandon University
in 1998 entitled, "Off the
Cuff."
Genista Buhler of Brandon replaced Mitchell Grobb as the
youth leader in 1999---2002. The Fantasy Fiddlers are directing and arranging
their own stage performances. Mark Witherspoon serves as Master of Ceremonies
and Stage and Program Manager. Mark, Brian and Dorothy have volunteered their
time to coach, help direct, make travel arrangements, negotiate bookings,
arrange for recordings and transportation of the sound systems and students,
when parents can’t travel.
“Channeling all the energy of these talented students
is exciting, and keeping us young!” says Dorothy Granger, who is the piano
accompanist. The Fantasy Fiddlers
can boast of having performed for Prime Minister Chretien at the Canada Games;
the Olympic Curling Trials; Dauphin Country Fest; with the Calgary Fiddlers;
as well as for North Dakota’s Governor at the Medora Musical; the Minot
Hostefest and the Frozen Fingers Festival; just to mention a few.
Today, these fiddlers are veteran entertainers of the
fair and festival market in both Canada and the U.S. Their tunes have proven time and again to delight babies to
grandparents, farmers to executives. In
March of 2003 they completed their third recording at Studio One in Brandon
entitled “Horizon” .
These young people are fiddling, stomping and singing
their way into hearts with that universal appeal possessed only by youth.
Be sure to attend a concert and feel that genuine old-time sound.
If you can't attend a concert, consider purchasing a tape
or CD. The group has made three
recordings - “Off The Cuff,” “Beyond Borders,” and their newest
release “Horizons” will be available in March 2003.
Cassette tapes are available for $12 and CDs for $18.
Anyone wishing to purchase a Tape or CD, secure the group for a booking
or just wanting more information, may contact Brian and Dorothy Granger at
(204) 728-6591 or Mark Witherspoon at (204) 523-8197.