Bonnie Rideout

All Music Guide:

Bonnie Rideout grew up on a farm in Michigan, spent much of her childhood on Cliff Island, Casco Bay, ME, and studied classical violin at the University of Michigan. Her fiddling, however, reflects the musical traditions of her ancestral home of Scotland. The recipient of Instrumentalist of the Year and Record of the Year WAMA (Washington Area Music Association) awards in 2000, Rideout is a three-time winner of the United States National Scottish fiddle championship and the only American to be invited to demonstrate 18th century and Highland fiddle styles at the Edinburgh International Festival. The Washington Post praised Rideout for her "soulful, elegant, and virtuosic fiddle playing," while Rock'n Reel took a similar view, writing that Rideout's "playing is examplary throughout, with exhilaration and desolate beauty in equal measure." Rideout inherited her love of music from her mother, who played piano, and her father, who played ocarina. While searching for Christmas presents in her parent's closet, Rodeout "discovered" an old violin. Fascinated by the instrument, she devoted herself to learning the classical approach to the violin. Advancing quickly, she sharpened her playing skills while playing in public school orchestras and was accepted for private lessons at the University of Michigan. She also performed with the school's youth orchestra. Enrolling at the University of Michigan as a viola major, Rideout soon switched her areas of focus. She graduated in 1985 with degrees in violin performance and fine arts. Inspired by Scottish fiddler, Dr. John Turner, Rideout moved to Scotland where she played with several strathspey and reel societies. Veteran Scottish fiddlers Ron Gonnella, Bill Hardie, and Angus Cameron took her under their wing, exposing her to a wide range of Scottish fiddle styles. Rideout learned many tunes from Scottish farmer/fiddler Jim Falconer and his wife, Katherine. While serving as musician-in-residence at Armadale Castle on the Isle of Skye, she taught herself many tunes from a collection assembled in the 18th century by Patrick MacDonald. Several of these pieces were featured on her debut album, "Soft May Morning." Currently residing in Alexandria, VA, Rideout alternates between solo performances and shows with her band the Bonnie Rideout Scottish Trio, featuring guitarist Bryan Aspey and percussionist Paddy League. Rideout has written four books for Mel Bay Publishing.

Wikipedia:

Bonnie Rideout (born 1962 - Saline, Michigan) is an award winning Scottish fiddler. She is especially known for her traditional style and fiddle piobaireachd playing. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music. She is a recording artist, her touring career spanning three decades.

Background

Rideout was born into a musical family of Scots descent and grew up in the rural communities of Saline, Michigan and Cliff Island, Maine. Without television, her family spent much of their time playing music. Rideout attended Saline High School and studied under Robert Phillips. She graduated from the University of Michigan School of Music. Rideout signed with the Maggie's Music Record Label between 1994 and 2001. In 2003 she incorporated her own independent record label, Tulloch Music, Ltd. Rideout's popular album, A Scottish Christmas, became a New York Times‚ "Top Ten Holiday Best Seller". Its success prompted a touring show, which ran for over fifteen years across North America. Her popular recording, Gi' Me Elbow Room received the National Parent's Choice Gold Award. In 2007, the Mel Bay Publishing Company credited Bonnie as one of America's most influential traditional fiddlers of the 20th century. She is a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), having served on the Board of Governors for the Washington D.C. branch. Ms. Rideout is the only American to hold the honor of representing Scottish fiddle music at the Edinburgh International Festival. She is the first woman to hold the National Scottish Fiddle title and the youngest to have garnered the U.S. Championship, winning it for three consecutive years. Bonnie discontinued competing to become an adjudicator and professional recording artist and has maintained a consistently high profile in the Celtic music scene.

Reception

Bonnie Rideout has been featured on the BBC, CBS, NPR‚ Performance Today, and Morning Edition. She is also consistently played on NPR's The Thistle and Shamrock. In addition to authoring seven music books for Mel Bay Publications, Bonnie has recorded over fifteen solo albums and appeared as a guest artist on dozens of CDs for Sony, BMG, Time Life, EMI, Ryco Disc, Maggie's‚ Music, Dorian, and Rounder Records. In 2003, she incorporated her own record label, Tulloch Music, Ltd.