Calvin Vollrath with Jeremy Rusu

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Calvin Vollrath is one of Canada’s most outstanding, award winning virtuosic fiddlers! Calvin will be accompanied by the incredibly gifted multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Rusu.

Calvin’s love for music began at an early age when he used to mimic his father Art “Lefty” Vollrath with two butter knives. His father developed his own reputation as a great fiddler and passed on the family tradition. Calvin was raised on the Don Messer’s Jubilee and at the age of 8, received his first fiddle. It was soon apparent Calvin was a natural. At 13, he entered his first fiddle contest and at the age of 17, he was already winning the Championship class. Calvin was twice crowned the Grand North American Old Tyme Fiddle Champion.

A musical prodigy, to date Calvin has composed almost 700 tunes, many of which have become standard contest and dance tunes across North America & Europe. His influence in the fiddle world is very evident. He has to his credit, 72 of his own albums, numerous music books of his original compositions and an instructional DVD. Calvin was commissioned to compose 5 fiddle tunes for the Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010 Opening Ceremonies to represent the various styles of fiddling our country has to offer. He also wrote the theme for the international fiddle convention “Fiddles of the World”, held in Halifax NS in July 1999. When Calvin writes a tune for an individual, a place or an event, he has an uncanny sense of capturing their personality or expressing its atmosphere. A world-class fiddler, Calvin represents Alberta and Canada internationally. Since his participation at the 2000 World Music Expo (WOMEX) in Berlin Germany, Calvin has toured several European countries. He also served as musical director for Hank Smith’s band on his European tour from 1994-1996. In July 2006, Calvin was selected as one of 10 performers to represent Alberta at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC.

Calvin has recorded with the likes of Ian Tyson, Colleen Peterson & Laura Vinson to name a few and is still in demand as a studio musician for various Canadian artists and film and television productions. Calvin has appeared on many television shows including CTV’s “Sun Country”, CTV’s “Number I West” and was musical director for CBC’s “Native Nashville North”. CBC’s “Adrienne Clarkson Presents” aired a documentary on Métis fiddle music featuring Calvin Vollrath and John Arcand.

Whether it’s on jazz piano, drums with a big band, country lead guitar, bluegrass mandolin, accordion, or bagpipes Jeremy Rusu is right at home on a stage as long as he’s making music. Blind since birth, Jeremy’s entire life has revolved around music. He was a member of several bands around Winnipeg and recently relocated to Brockville, Ontario. Jeremy is also busy working as a studio musician and recording engineer. He recently released his first solo recording, “The Accordion Album” and will soon release an album of lullabies with his wife Annie.