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Over the past 10 years of her musical career, she has obtained over 150 awards, ranging from, Jr. Canadian Champion, Jr Maritime Champion, NB Provincial Champion, as well being placed in the top eleven in Canadian at the Canadian Grandmaster. She has also received awards for her classical work and has received awards for her kind heart as a Volunteer, sharing her music with so many needy causes. This year Samantha was awarded with a "Distinction Award" from her School, showing she was an outstanding person in all areas of life.
During the past five years Samantha has recorded three Albums, first "Hitting the Notes" at the age of 10 and "Just Being Me" at the age of 12. In the fall of 2001, at the age of 14, she released her third recording, "Twist'n the Bow," her most innovative to date! Samantha believes that music should be fun and it shows in her performances. |
Hi Samantha! Thanks for allowing us to do an interview with you for The Canadian Celtic Music Website.
You sound like you've been performing your whole life. What
got you started playing the fiddle?
 When
I was 2 years old I was watching TV and I saw some fiddlers and I
told my parents that is what I want to do. They thought I was
crazy!! But by 4 yrs old they were tired of hearing me beg, so
they started me in lessons with Jocelyne Bourque.
For someone who is new to your music, how would you describe it?
I started with old time music, after learning several different styles
I started to develop my own. It is still a lot of old time but
in an upbeat way. I do play Scottish and Classical also.
Do you have any other musicians in your family? Are your parents musical? Siblings?
My brother is my piano player when I play at my shows. My Dad does
play guitar.
Do you play any other instruments besides the fiddle?
I play the piano, flute and trumpet and am now
learning the guitar.
I look up to a lot of fiddlers. My first teacher Jocelyne
Bourque was a great influence on me as well as Ivan Hicks who has
helped me a lot. I listen to Calvin Vollrath and Patti Kusturok,
Mark O'Connor and Natalie MacMaster a lot. I enjoy their styles.
How do you choose the tunes you're going to record?
I choose my tunes by different reasons. Number one is I love
playing the tune, then I think of the listeners (something for all
ages, and a little bit of all styles) and then I look at the
composer. Each song on my cd has a special meaning to me when I
hear it.
What do you enjoy to do when you're not playing the fiddle?
Not playing the FIDDLE!!!. I go to school, hang out with my friends, go
to hockey games, movies, shopping. I LOVE SHOPPING!!
 You've
competed at the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Contest in Ottawa the
past few years. How are you selected to compete there?
What has that experience been like? What have you learned from
it?
They select 5 fiddlers from New Brunswick to go. They must of have won
a major contest in a two year period. This experience has been so
great. Most of all the people I have met and friends I have made.
It was such a big thrill the first year, I was only 12 years old and made the finals. I never expected to do that my first year at that age. It is a goal every year to try and make the finals. It keeps me working. I've learned there are a lot of GOOD! fiddlers out there. It doesn't matter where you place, it is an honour to go and there are just three judges and everyone there deserves a lot of credit for playing at the Grand Masters.
A lot of people across Canada may not realize it, but they saw you
perform on the 1998 ECMA's in Halifax as part of the Kitchen Party set
with fiddlers like Natalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac, Buddy MacMaster
and Winnie Chafe. How did you get selected for that gig?
I had done a TV show for TFO a few months before that and Jac
Gauteau played the piano for me. He thought I was a good fiddler for
the age of 10. Then a few months later he called me and asked if I
would like to play on the ECMA in the Kitchen Party set.
What have been some of the highlights of your career so far?
The ECMA show was one, the Atlantic Lotto East Coast Music
Showcase which I did the year before was another. I played
on the Grand Ole Opry stage. I even left my shoe marks on the
stage after I did a few step dancing steps. This past summer I
got to play at the Calgary Stampede as a New Artist Showcase
which was fun. I have done a lot and each and every event is
special in its own way. Also having the opportunity to record
three CD's at the age of 14.
What performances do you have coming up in the next few months?
I am play at the 72 Hour Jam at the ECMA's in Saint John, NB. I will
be playing on the Tobique River Run. That is fun...you go down the
river in a canoe playing the fiddle. There are about 500 canoes
with most having fiddlers in them.. I have several local shows to play
at over the next few months.
Where have you performed?
I have performed across the US including Nashville, Branson and
Florida. In Nashville, I played at the Grand Ole Opry and
Wildhorse Saloon and in Branson, the Sussex Ave Fiddlers opened for
Barbara Fairchild. At the Klondike Days in Edmonton I played on the
Telus Main Stage. McMaster and James; were standing on the side of
the stage watching me (they were playing that afternoon also).
I have played at the Nashville North Stage at the Calgary
Stampede. I have played on several TV shows and got to do a
commercial for "Fiddles of the World" . I have played for
the World Francophone Summit, the Canadian Jr Curling, a Luncheon
for the World Leaders wives. The list goes on.
Is there a place that you would like to visit?
I would love to have a chance to go to Australia, Scotland, Norway and
Hawaii .
Now for some more entertaining questions!
What's your favorite movie/TV show?
My favourite movie is Centre Stage, and TV show is
Friends.
Who are your favorite singers/instrumentalists?
My favourite singers are Patsy Cline, the Backstreet Boys and
N'Scync. Instrumentalists are of course fiddlers...Natalie
MacMaster, Annbjorg Lien and Calvin Vollrath.
If you could perform with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
If I could I would love to perform with Mark O'Connor in Carnegie
Hall. Why? Because he is an awesome fiddler and
person. I would chose Carnegie Hall because I would LOVE to have
a chance to play there some day.
Best of luck with your career in the months and years to come! Samantha Robichaud |
"...there's a grab bag of flavours to be discovered...a versatile mix of reels, rags and bow benders in which Sam's fun but exquisite finesse on the fiddle is guaranteed to charm more ears than ever." - Greg Perry on Samantha's new CD "Twistin' the Bow" - 2001 "The 14 jigs, reels, swing and traditional tracks are a sizzling display; as much a blend of her background in classical and down-east styles as her natural intuition with the bow. Robichaud saws through numerous medleys (Three Days In Miami meets Cotton Eyed Joe), waltzes and traditional in an energetic blitz of spirited vigour and seasoned interpretation beyond her years." - Greg Perry on Samantha's 2nd CD "Just Being Me" - 2000 |
Live Performances & Media
Awards
January 2002
February 2002
March 2002
April 2002
May 2002
June 2002
For the latest tour dates, please visit Samantha's website - http://www.fiddlingsam.8m.com/ |
For more info on Samantha Robichaud, check out her website at http://www.fiddlingsam.8m.com Fan Mail & Booking Information: Samantha Robichaud, PO Box 7079, Riverview, NB, E1B 4T8, Canada. Email: samantha@fiddlingsam.8m.com To order Samantha Robichaud's CD's, visit the Canadian Celtic Music Website. They are also available for purchase at the following stores in the Maritimes: Moncton, NB: Radio Land (Highfield Square & Champlain Mall), Riverview, NB: Jean Coutu, Miramichi, NB: Saltwater Music, Bridgewater, NS: Apple Berry Farm Market (360 Lahave St). If you're interested in more Canadian Celtic Music, visit the Canadian Celtic Music Website. |
Thanks to everyone who entered to win Samantha Robichaud's new CD "Twistin' the Bow." Our winners have been picked now...congratulations to Joyce from Qualicum Beach, British Columbia & Carol from Largo, Florida. If you didn't win, you can purchase Samantha's new CD here. |
Samantha
Robichaud is a lively young Maritime fiddler. She has been playing the
fiddle since the age of 4 years old. She is not only an outstanding fiddler,
but is also a member of the "NB Youth Orchestra," which shows her
talent as a classical player as well.
Samantha
has played on stages across Canada and the United States. Some stages
include the East Coast Music Awards Show, Calgary Stampede, Klondike Days,
Wildhorse Saloon (Nashville) and even the Grand Ole Opry Stage. She has
performed on several TV shows, which have aired across Canada, which
include the East Coast Music Awards Show, CBC Acadian World Congress
Closing Show, CBC Youth Showcase, Fiddles of the World Commercial,
"The Big Breakfast Show" out of Edmonton AB and "A Musical
Maritime Odyssey" on the Vision Channel.
You
have a great selection of tunes on your new CD "Twistin' The
Bow" by a variety of composers. What fiddlers/musicians do
you look up to? Who have been some of your influences?
