ceilidhfiddlers

Subtitle

How do yu say it? Ceilidh

(KAY-lee)- and what does it mean? an informal social gathering among neighbors, with or without singing, playing instruments, story telling, etc. spontaneously performed by some or all of those present; a visit, chat, gossip. (from The Concise Scots Dictionary)

MEET THE MUSICIANS!!

The Billings Ceilidh Fiddlers perform traditional Celtic folk music and was founded in 2001 by Janny Kirk. The group began as a Scottish fiddle group and plays frequent engagements in the Billings, Montana area. The fiddlers have twice toured in the British Isles, with trips to Scotland and Ireland. We have cut 4 CDs, the most recent, "Billings Ceilidh Fiddlers' Greatest Hits" is available for $15.The size of the group varies but regularly performs with twenty. The fiddler's membership is representative of all ages and abilities. The purpose of the fiddle group is to foster the development of players who wish to perform traditional Celtic music-and to have fun doing it!

The group has recently reorganized under the direction of Carol Lustig, Carol Engle, Peter Michelotti, and Lauren Carr. We so appreciate the leadership of Janny for 15 years. Her joy, pep, enthusiasm and love of fiddle music is something we strive to carry on. We welcome new musicians of any age and feature a variety of instruments.

Carol is a physical therapist and took up the fiddle as an adult, and joined Billings Ceilidh Fiddlers in 2006. She went to Ireland in 2008 with the group and earned the name 'Fun Size Carol' ( because she's very short!!!). She says the Ireland playing adventure with the group was one of her most fun memorable trips ever!! Carol also likes to motorcycle(dirt bike), fly fish, camp, and walk with her 4 st bernards. Carol welcomes anyone who wants to play Scottish/ Irish music to join the group! "Just Do It"!!

Carol has been enjoying playing her violin since age 10 and has been with the Ceilidh Fiddlers since its beginnings in 2001. She's also involved with other musical groups in Billings. She's been a retired 6th Grade teacher as of June 2015 and since then has been teaching private violin lessons in her home. She and her husband grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (GO PACK!) They have 4 grown kids, 13 grandkids and 2 charming dogs, Jack and Bart Starr. Carol enjoys knitting, reading, walking, traveling, and campfires.

Peter

Bob has been with the Ceilidh Fiddlers since 2007 and played with them on the Ireland tour in 2008. Playing percussion, mainly the bohdran, he was given the nick name, "Accelarando Bob" on that tour because his rhythm was a bit too fast for the fiddlers style, since then they like to keep up His favorite sets are the reels, A commercial artist by trade, he is a partner at Rebel River Creative in Billings, MT. The agency used the Fiddlers' music for the agency's promo video. Check it out at rebelrivercreative.com,

Lauren

Theresa I have been with the Billings Ceilidh Fiddlers since about 2007. Playing with this wonderful, supportive fiddle group through all the "up beats and down beats" has been a totally fun and fantastic journey for me. Making music and learning an instrument is personally challenging; but definitely satisfying and rewarding. It's also a welcomed distraction from my life-long profession as a struggling potter and ceramic artist. Originally from central

and northern California where I graduated in Sociology from UC Santa Cruz, I landed in Billings in 1978. I now live in Shepherd with my teacher/artist husband, Jim Seaton, and Kodiak the dog. I have a musician son, Tom, who lives in Portland on the West coast; and a marketing executive daughter, Jessie, who lives in New York on the East coast. My hobbies include working on my house, canoeing the Yellowstone for agates, walking Kodiak, and wandering the backroads and foothills of Montana and Alaska in search of "wild things".

"Play on Ceilidh Fiddlers...Keep the music going!"

Christian I have been playing violin for 8 years now. I have played with the fiddlers for 4 years off and on. My favorite piece is Finley Mac Rae.

Jennifer

Alicia

Alex

Laura

Sydney has played the violin for 9 years. She is currently a full-time student at Rocky Mountain College where she is studying Psychology. She joined the Ceilidh Fiddlers in 2012. She continues to take classical violin lessons from Randy Tracy.

Robert