VIRGINIA & SHAWN SCHWARTZ:Only 14 months apart, Virginia & Shawn grew up in rural, English Quebec. Their German ancestors settled in the area in the early 1900s, and although Virginia & Shawn grew up many, many years later, they were lucky enough to still experience weekly bread delivery and a telephone party line. You can understand why music was such an important part of their lives!
At the tender age of 5, Virginia started stepdancing - a very popular Ottawa valley hobby. Her teacher would organize groups of students at the only local elementary school ... the 5 room school where both Virginia & Shawn shared a classroom with 20 kids, in 3 different grades, all taught by 1 single teacher (uh, who also happened to be their aunt).
Step-dancing led Virginia to pick up the fiddle (at the relatively mature age of 6) -and Shawn to follow her lead soon after. Influenced also by their great- grandparents who learned to play by ear (in their farmhouse, of course) - and studying with several fine teachers, including 3-time Canadian Grand Master, Louis Schryer. Virginia & Shawn learned a traditional Canadian fiddling style, along with many Quebecois tunes. They enjoy mixing the styles, and have started their own collection of original fiddle tunes, released on their debut album, Fiddlehaus: Schwartz' Backyard.
For 5 years, and counting, Virginia has toured with the west coast Celtic band, The Town Pants (www.thetownpants.com) ... taking her on numerous European tours, tours across the US and Canada. When at home in Vancouver, Virginia still finds time to teach to new fiddle enthusiasts.
For almost 10 years now, Shawn has been teaching in the Ottawa valley, and has developed quite a following of his unique fiddle style. Shawn rarely misses the opporunity to play at local fundraisers and events. Albeit Shawn is well known for his style on the wooden toy, he is also known for a few fiddle related adventures (ask him about that trip to Nova Scotia !). Oh that wooden music maker!
Virginia's ever-popular Gin & Milk, Heidi's Growl, and Diggin' the Grave ... and Shawn's foot-stompin' Die Alte Sagemuhle, In the Shitehouse, & Payday Jiggers, are just a few of the original tunes highlighted on their new album - Fiddlehaus: Schwartz' Backyard - released on March 14th, 2006.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A COPY!
Check out www.fiddlehaus.com for more information