|
 Emerging from
the thick of the traditional music scene, the fiddling of 22-year-old
April Verch is a breath of fresh air. Though she has deep roots in the
fiddling of her native Ottawa Valley in Canada, April's broad repertoire
features traditional and contemporary tunes ranging in source and
inspiration from French Canadian to Appalachian, from Bluegrass to Celtic,
and Brazilian to Old Time - not to mention her own colorful compositions.
EnRoute magazine says "April's strings burn with energy, whether
she's playing waltzes, airs, reels, or polkas. This is the hottest old
time music of the year." No matter what you call it, April's music is
beguiling in the way it brilliantly balances contemporary élan and
traditional resonance.
April's accomplishments extend far and wide, artistically and geographically. As a headliner, special guest, and backing musician, she has toured across Canada, in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. Amongst many honors, April performed for the Millennium Celebrations at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and was a guest at Chet Atkins' tribute in Nashville, along with a host of Grand Ole Opry stars. She was also a featured performer at the Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival and at Fiddles of the World. And let's not forget her coveted titles of Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Champion (1997) and Canadian Open Fiddle Champion (1998). April studied fiddling at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, under fiddle greats Matt Glaser and Darol Anger. She is now in great demand as a teacher herself, instructing at as many fiddle camps and workshops as her performance schedule will allow. But this young musician is not only highly sought-after for her master fiddling, but for her virtuoso Ottawa Valley step dancing as well. This dynamic, high-energy form of dancing performed by April's award-winning feet never fails to bring the house down.
Despite all of the curious byroads that the music of April Verch explores, all are united by her driving fiddle playing, its phrasing both concise and precise while maintaining a vigorous, ceaseless bounce. Her mastery of rhythm - both in adhering to a pulse and blending different rhythmic ideas - is Verchuosity's greatest virtue. It's easy to expect great things from April, and she delivers every time. Dynamic and diabolic, soothing and soaring, the music of April Verch will invigorate you, calm you, and charm you. |
InterviewHi April! Thanks for allowing us to do an interview with you for The Canada Celtic Cafe. You sound like you've been performing your whole life. What got you started in step-dancing and playing the fiddle? You started step-dancing first, correct?
Yes, I started step dancing first, at the
age of three. When I was born, my sister Tawnya, who is 4 years
older than me was already step dancing. I wanted to be just like
her, so Mom says she thinks I actually started step dancing before I
started walking! When I went to compete in my first step dancing
competition at the age of four, I saw all of the fiddle players and
decided that I had to be a fiddler too! My Mom and Dad thought
that I was too young to have enough attention to practise both and
decided I should just stick with the dancing and that maybe the
"fiddle phase" would pass. But apparently I kept on
bugging them, and I got my first fiddle for my sixth birthday.
I'll never forget how excited I was. My Dad, who plays self-taught
guitar and fiddle, taught me my very first tune the next day.
For someone who is new to your music, how would you describe it?
Having been raised in the Ottawa Valley in Ontario, my
roots are in Old Time Canadian Fiddle music. Growing up though, I
listened to many different styles of fiddle music, including French
Canadian, Metis, Texas, Cape Breton, Scottish, Irish... Then after
high school I studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. I
chose Berklee because I was looking for a way to expand my music.
Matt Glaser, the chair of the string department, is a master of jazz and
bluegrass fiddling and understands many other styles as well (not to
mention his extensive knowledge of theory!) and I knew that he would
understand where I wanted to go. I didn't want to copy anyone, or
focus on one particular style, I wanted to pick bits and pieces of
everything I liked and learn to understand and apply it to my
traditional roots. I learned a lot at Berklee. A lot of the
things I studied there are evident in my current style, and there are
still more things I learned that I am working on applying, and then I
find new things all the time through musicians that I meet as well, and
so my style is constantly evolving. I find it difficult to
pinpoint exactly what that style is, and I don't have a great urge to
try and give it a name. My playing appeals to a wide audience
because I fool around with so many styles, and because my own
compositions are a mélange of the many genres I have listened to.
I can fit into many categories, including folk, old time,
bluegrass...but no matter what you call it, my playing is traditional.
And that is one thing that I am certain it always will be. It's
where I come from and what I love.
Do you have any other musicians in your family? Are your parents musical? Siblings?
As I said before, my Dad, Ralph, plays guitar, a bit of
fiddle, and he also sings. He had a country music band while I was
growing up, which was great for me. I can still remember sitting
up till late at night listening to them practise. It gave me a
great base for learning to play back-up fiddle.
My sister, Tawnya, plays piano and sings as well. It was great to
have a piano player and a guitar player in the family to accompany me.
It really helped me with my rhythm and was more fun than playing
alone!
My Mom, Muriel, doesn't play or sing, but she has always been a great
support. With Dad's help, she was always driving us to lessons,
contests, gigs, making costumes, helping us practise, I have no idea how
her and Dad did it. They are the most unselfish people I know and
I owe all that I am to them.
Do you play any other instruments besides the fiddle?
While I was growing up, I took piano lessons and played
the flute at school. I've fooled around with other instruments
like guitar and mandolin too, but don't consider myself a
"player" of any of those instruments at all.
I studied classical violin as well as fiddle while growing up, and took
the RCM theory, history, harmony and analysis courses.
Do you have a full band that goes on tour with you?
When I tour, I travel with a guitar player, a piano
player, and a percussionist (who also happens to be my husband and
manager! How handy!) In
time I hope to add a couple of other band members, perhaps a banjo and a
bass player, but for now this group suits me just fine. We have a
very full, sound, but it's not cluttered, which makes for good music in my
opinion.
Who are some of your musical influences?
My musical influences change all of the time. As I
grow musically, I start to seek different things from different
musicians to help me get where I'm trying to go at the time. Then
when I've found what I'm looking for, I move on, but what I've learned
from those musicians stays with me somewhere inside and I just keep
building on it. Right now I'm listening to Bruce Molsky and John
Hartford a lot. They are two musicians who absolutely amaze me.
There are so many incredible musicians out there, I just keep stumbling
upon them and am constantly reminded how vast the world of music really
is. That's
one of the things I get really excited about...there is no limit, no
boundary to where I can go with my music.
What do you enjoy to do when you're off the road?
It doesn't seem like I have a whole lot of time to myself
when I'm off the road these days. It's usually just long enough to
catch up on the mail, do the paper work that's piled up while I've been
away, do the laundry and re-pack! Of course my main priority is
always my family and friends. Keeping in touch while on the road
isn't always easy, so I like to relax and spend as much time with the
people who matter most to me when I'm "off". I love to
read, write new tunes, bake, oh, and talk on the phone.
What have been some of the highlights of your career so far?
It's pretty tough to pick the highlights of my career,
because all I've ever wanted to do is play the fiddle, and being able to
do that full time is a dream come true. I enjoy every gig, whether
it be big or small, a festival or a concert. The highlights that
come to mind aren't necessarily moments on stage, or competitions that
I've won, but the wonderful musicians, and musical heroes that I've met
through my music. Playing at the Ryman in
Nashville was really cool, it was hard to believe I was on the stage
that so many legends had graced. I also really enjoyed performing
on Parliament Hill on Canada Day. I shared the stage with many
wonderful fiddlers and there were so many cheering Canadians...it was a
great feeling.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
Well, I've had a really exciting year this year, having
just signed a record deal with Rounder Records, and securing an agent in
the U.S. (Herschel Freeman Agency Inc.) and I'm really looking forward
to where the road leads me with the help of these respected industry
establishments. In 5, 10 years I hope to be performing every where
and lots, even more than now, because that's what I love to do most.
I've found that it's always difficult to predict my musical future
because as I grow I'm lead down many different paths, some that I have
thought about, some I may have never dreamed of. I know I'll still
be making and writing music, releasing records, and doing my part to
keep traditional fiddle music alive and kicking. Within that
scope, I'm open to what ever lies ahead and trust that there is a plan
for me that I'm meant to follow.
Where have you toured?
I've toured all over Canada, the U.S. and in England and
Scotland. I also performed in Dubai, United
Arab Emirates.
Is there a place that you have yet to tour that you would like to visit?
I seriously want to play every where possible, so it's
hard to narrow it down. But I think a tour of Australia, Germany,
and Brazil would be really neat.
Now for some more entertaining questions! What's your favourite movie?
My favourite movies are Back to the Future and Father of the Bride.
TV show? My favourite TV show is Will & Grace.Who are some of your favourite singers?
Some of my favourite singers are:
My Dad,
Salamander's Crossing, Jerusalem Ridge, Connie Kaldor,
Laura Smith &
Mac Wiseman.
Who are some of your favourite instrumentalists?
Some of my favourite instrumentalists are (in no particular order):
Gordie Sampson, Byron Berline, Bruce Molsky, Nickel Creek, John
Hartford & Oscar Lopez.
If you could perform with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
I think if I could perform with anyone in the world I
would pick Don Messer. He really started the whole genre of music
I was raised on and I think it would be a great experience to play with
someone who I've listened to from day one, and played his tunes all my
life.
Best of luck with your career in the months and years to come! Thank you! April Verch |
Media Pieces "…The regular line-up was complemented by the multi-talented April Verch as guest fiddler. And Ms. Verch - a winner of the Canadian Grand Nationals - almost stole the entire show with a violin solo combined with step dancing, a derivative of traditional Irish dancing by the looks of it." - Royal Gazette Review (Bermuda) - Raymond Hainey April 1999 "April Verch: Fiddelicious Here's another firehouse fiddler in the mould of Natalie MacMaster. Verch studied at Berklee and her strings burn with energy, whether she's playing waltzes, airs, reels or polkas. This is the hottest old-time music of the year." - New Music from Canada EnRoute (Air Canada) - Jurgen Gothe December 1999 "…After the music resumed, one of numerous highlights came when fiddler April Verch and mandolinist Casey Driessen played a bluegrass rendition of Leiber and Stoller's "That Is Rock and Roll." The audience roared as Verch, a champion fiddler from Ontario, Canada, displayed her virtuosity on violin and as a tap dancer. The duo brought down the house with Verch's simultaneous tapping and fiddling pyrotechnics." - Berklee beat Berklee today Summer 1998 ""Verchuousity" showcases a great young talent, but more importantly, it's a whole lot of fun." - "Verchuosity" (Rounder) - April Verch Eric Fiddler, AP Writer January 19, 2001 |
Tour Dates For Current Tour Dates, go to www.aprilverch.com |
Contact Info For more info on April Verch and to hear some sound clips, check out her website at http://www.aprilverch.com. April Verch's Management - Marc Bru, 603 4th Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK S7K 2M8, Phone: (306) 933-0947, Fax: (306) 933-0947For Non-US Booking Information, e-mail admin@aprilverch.com or phone (306) 933-0947 For US Booking Information, contact: Herschel Freeman Agency, Inc., 7684 Apahon Lane - Germantown, TN 38138, USA - Phone (901) 757-4567 Fax (901) 757-5424 - Email: hfreeman@herschelfreemanagency.com To order April Verch's CD's, visit her website. If you're interested in more Canadian Celtic Music, visit http://www.islandviewcreations.com/canadacelticmusic |
Around
the age many artists are thinking about maybe trying to put an album
together, April has four. Those recordings, Springtime Fiddle (1990),
Fiddle Talk (1995), and Fiddelicious (1998) have earned her airplay on
radios all over the world.