| BONNIE RIDEOUT Scottish Fiddle | |||
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| One of the finest and most fiery Scottish fiddlers of our time, Bonnie Rideout brings to her performances the evocative music of the Highlands. On stages from Scotland’s Edinburgh International Festival to America’s Kennedy Center, Bonnie’s unique style of fiddling has charmed audiences with a vast array of traditional Scottish dance tunes, Highland bagpipe music and ancient Gaelic melodies, each reflecting the rich musical tradition of her heritage. Bonnie, a three- time U.S. Scottish fiddle champion, has been featured on the BBC, CBS News Sunday Morning, NPR’s Performance Today, Morning Edition, and The Thistle and Shamrock. In addition to authoring six music books for the Mel Bay Publishing Company, Bonnie has recorded seven solo albums and appeared as guest musician on dozens of CDs with Sony, Ryco Disc, Dorian, Maggie’s Music and Rounder Records. Her solo recordings include the newly released Scottish Fire; The New York Times “Top Ten” Holiday best seller A Scottish Christmas; Parent’s Choice Gold winner Gi’Me Elbow Room; and award-winning Scottish Rant, Kindred Spirits, Celtic Circles and Soft May Morn. Bonnie resides with her husband and three children in Alexandria, Va. To witness Bonnie Rideout on stage is an experience like no other. Her maturity and intensity combined with the sheer joy she projects through her music leaves audiences spellbound. The driving rhythms of guitar and percussion behind her strong bow arm make her music irresistible. Despite being chosen by Mel Bay Publishing Company as one of the 20th century’s most influential fiddlers, Bonnie insists that it is not she, but the type of music she plays that draws people to her sold-out shows. With the resurgence of interest in Celtic music, it is not surprising that she has moved to center stage. Bonnie Rideout is the only American to hold the honor of representing Scottish fiddle music at the prestigious Edinburgh International Festival. She is the first woman to hold a national Scottish fiddle title and the youngest to have garnered the U.S. championship, winning it for three consecutive years. Although her competition days ended quickly in order to become an adjudicator and professional recording artist, Bonnie has maintained a consistently high profile on stages within the international Celtic music scene. Simply stated, an evening with Bonnie Rideout is an opportunity to join in her passion to live every moment to its fullest and an invitation to savor the purely Scottish flavors in her music. | |||
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Her exceptional control when bowing, her ornamentation and her marvelously rich double-stopped drones produce an authentically moving, almost keening, sound. ~ The Scotsman, Edinburgh |
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Bonnie Rideout plays expressively, usually with a lovely warm tone reminiscent of Irish fiddlers. ~ Folkroots, U.K. |
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Rideout’s instrumental flair and emotional sensitivity on both fiddle and viola are consistently enhanced by her impressive scholarship. ~ The Washington Post |
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Bonnie Rideout’s fiddle work is positively poignant, just short of a sob for good times gone. ~ Keltic Fringe |