As a Fiddler / Jazz Violinist

2020 - present: Remotely recorded & arranged full string section recordings for dozens of artists' albums (with the help of wife Kaitlyn Raitz, cello). Arrangements and recordings have been featured on HBO, played by full symphonies and performed worldwide.

2021: Released a Fiddle & Banjo duo record with Frank Evans (of the Slocan Ramblers). Album is nominated for a 2022 Canadian Folk Music Award.

2016: Won a Juno Award for Instrumental Album of the Year in Canada with The Fretless. Nominated again in 2018. Also 4x winners of Canadian Folk Music Awards (2012-2020)

2014 - present: Spent (spends) extensive time touring with projects The Fretless, Oliver the Crow, Front Country, Sarah Jane Scouten, and Ozere, to name a few.

2013: Runner up at the prestigious nation-wide Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle competition.- 1998 - 2005: Member of the world famous performing group 'The Calgary Fiddlers'. Performed at approximately 100 shows and functions in each of those years.

2007-2012: 3-time finalist (top 3) at the Grand North American Old Time Fiddle Championships, each time I attended.

2007 - present: Became successful as a freelance fiddler in genres such as Country, Bluegrass, Folk, Rock, Celtic, Pop, Jazz, Klezmer and more. Shared the stage or recorded with acts such as Raffi, Anne Murray, Brett Kissel, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Paul Brandt, and Jason Blaine, to name a few. Member of the house band at the prestigious Calgary Folk Club. Recorded on upwards of 100 professional albums as a session player and string arranger.

2005 - 2007: Enrolled in Humber College's Bachelor of Contemporary Music program, under the direction of jazz violinist Drew Jurecka. Took part in numerous private lessons, masterclasses, technique classes, ear training classes and theory classes. Performed with countless ensembles, such as a Romanian Folk band, a Gypsy Jazz ensemble and a Modern Jazz combo.

2006: Performed as a soloist with Humber College's "A Band" and world-renowned trumpet master Dave Douglas.

2005: With the Calgary Fiddlers, performed in South Korea, Scotland, Ireland, England and all across North America.
Received instruction from Nolana Baillargeon, as well as some of North America's leading fiddlers as guest clinicians, such as Natalie MacMaster, Mark O'Connor, Calvin Vollrath and April Verch.
Represented Alberta at the province's centennial celebration in Ottawa. Performed as a soloist on a concert that also featured Alberta legends Ian Tyson and Corb Lund, with the National Arts Centre Orchestra.



 

As a Classical Violinist / Violist

- 2005: Personally selected to perform as a soloist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.
- 2002 - 2005: Performed extensively as part of many gigging quartets at countless weddings, parties and other functions.
- 2005: Violist in a classical chamber group that won first prize in Alberta at the Kiwanis Music Festival.
- 2005: Violist and arranger in a classical & pop chamber group selected by Calgary's mayor, Dave Bronconnier, to represent Calgary's arts community at a festival in Toronto.

- 2001 - 2005: Member of the Calgary Youth Orchestra. Was principal violist from 2002-2005. Toured New Zealand in 2003, as principal violist. Led the viola section in a performance for Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II of England. Performed countless times as a soloist, including on the orchestra's recording 'The Thrill of the Western'.
- 1999 - 2005: Member of the elite 'Academy Program for Gifted Students' at Mount Royal University (*then Mount Royal College) in Calgary, AB. Studied intensely, taking part in countless master classes with guest clinicians, chamber music groups, extra private lessons and technique classes.

- 1992 - 2006: Studied under a number of private instructors, including Nick Pulos, Theresa Plotnick, William Van Der Sloot, Edmond Agopian, and Fiona Carnie.
- Born in 1987 in Calgary, AB. Began taking violin lessons in 1992 at age 5.






 

As a Producer / Bandleader

- 2016: Composed and arranged material for a new, critically acclaimed Texas Swing solo record.
- 2014 - present: Arranged dozens of pieces and tunes for string quartet - either by commission or for sale.
- 2013 - present: Arranged and recorded (and sometimes produced, remotely) string parts for a number of professional albums.
- 2010 - present: Composed or arranged dozens of bluegrass, old time, folk and celtic tunes used by the Calgary Fiddlers in shows around the world.
- 2009-2012: Arranged and scored a number of popular tunes for string quartet, to have them be used by professional quartets. Also composed and recorded string parts for a number of professional pop, folk and rock singers. Wrote, arranged and orchestrated string parts on Rye & Fairy Tales' newest release.
- 2008, 2011, 2012: Composed, arranged and produced three more collaborative albums with groups The Homebound Runaways and most recently, Rye & Fairy Tales. Wrote 9 of 12 vocal songs on Rye & Fairy Tales' self-titled 2012 release. The album has been met with critical acclaim.
- 2005, 2007, 2010: Composed, arranged and produced three full-length solo albums. Performed all the instruments (violin, viola, guitars, bass, drum programming), mixed and mastered the first two.
- 2007: Compiled a book of fiddle tunes from various genres. Composed or arranged all of them, and self-published the book as a teaching tool.
- 2005 - 2006: Commissioned to arrange a number of pieces (within the genres of bluegrass, country, pop, rock and swing) for string orchestra. Had these pieces performed by the Intermediate and Conservatory string orchestras in Calgary, as well as the Calgary Youth Orchestra, and other ensembles in Canada.
- 2005: Co-founded and arranged pop tunes for a string quartet. Selected by Calgary's mayor Dave Bronconnier to represent Calgary's arts community at a festival in Toronto.




 

As a Teacher

- 2015: Self-Published "Vio-Lingo: a Comprehensive Guide to Learning the Language of Violin Improvisation". Now in it's third printing, the book has been praised by students and teachers alike for it's unique and thorough approach to improvisation on the fiddle. The book also includes 696 backing tracks, recorded on guitar and bass, which accompany the exercises in all 12 keys.
- 2005 - present: Consistently and repeatedly hired as a teacher for workshops at Yukon Summer School of Music, Mount Royal University (Calgary, AB), Red Deer College, Nimblefingers Bluegrass camp, the Old School Bluegrass Camp, and more than a dozen other music camps and workshops.
- 2005-2012: Taught private lessons and arranged music for the Calgary Fiddlers' Association.
Led weekly rehearsals and individual lessons for a group of 11 young fiddle players, preparing them for upwards of 25 performances each year. Served as the Assistant Artistic Director in 2005-2006.
- 2005 - 2012: Created and implemented plans for a weeklong summer fiddle camp in 2005, executing all organizational and administrative responsibilities. 'FiddleMania', as it was called, hosted up to 55 students annually, for the camp's 8-year run.
Hired and delegated tasks to 8 faculty members.
Managed extensive recruitment and fundraising efforts including website, publicity materials, and annual promotional concert series.
Served on the faculty every year since the camp's inception.
- 2005 - 2012: Taught weekly private music lessons for studio of as many as 35 students, including classical violinists, folk fiddle players, violists and guitarists.
Tailored pedagogy for students ages 6 to adult, adapting lesson content for varying skill levels.
Became one of very few teachers capable of teaching classical music and all manner of fiddle styles seriously. Was in high demand as a theory and improvisation teacher as well.