She became a member of the Order of Canada in 2006.Ryerson University Athletics is proud to announce the addition of Andrew Pettit in the position of Recreation Manager. She launched an extensive North American tour, playing with various musicians and orchestras, including the Boston Pops. Co-produced in Nashville by Darol Anger and MacMaster, the album fused traditional Cape Breton fiddling with bluegrass. During 2002 MacMaster recorded Live (2 40934 WEA) and wed fiddler Donnell Leahy. Her independently produced CBC-TV special aired later that year. In 2001 she performed on an ABC New Year's Eve television broadcast. MacMaster's 'supermodel beauty' ( Globe and Mail, 2 April 1997) did not negate her fiddling genius. In the LA Times, Don Heckman described MacMaster's live performances as 'the work of a world music star with real crossover potential.' Advertising campaigns (such as a national television commercial for Tim Horton's doughnuts) commissioned her dynamic image to promote their products. Natalie MacMaster toured North America, Denmark, the UK, Italy, Germany, New Zealand and Japan. In 2000 In My Hands won the Juno Award for best instrumental album. She provided her first vocals on the title track. Her traditional album, My Roots Are Showing (1998, CDTRAX 163 Greentrax), won best instrumental album at the 1999 Juno Awards, and in 2000 was nominated for a Grammy Award in the best traditional folk music category.Īttempting to break through to US audiences, in 1999 Rounder Records released In My Hands (2 28398 WEA). In both 19 MacMaster was named fiddler of the year at the Canadian Country Music Awards. Her teaching methodology was captured in the 1997 video Fiddle Lesson with Natalie MacMaster (NMAS V 1997 MacMaster Music). During the same year she guest-hosted CBC Radio's Atlantic Airwaves and began to teach at fiddler Mark O'Connor's annual Nashville music camp. In 1996 MacMaster signed a recording contract with Warner Music Canada and released her debut album, No Boundaries. The latter two garnered East Coast Music Awards, and Fit as a Fiddle struck Canadian gold (50,000 copies sold). Two independent records followed: c Road to the Isle (1991, ACC- 49290) and Fit as a Fiddle (1993, NMAS-CD 1972 CBC Maritimes). Natalie MacMaster's first recording, 4 on the Floor (ACC-4979), was released independently in 1989. It's keeping the tradition alive, and who can really argue with that?' Recordings, Awards, and Activities 1989 -Present She explains, 'Some people will argue that this ruins the tradition, but it doesn't really.

The Cape Breton style still has some rawness.' She occasionally layers the traditional music with her original contemporary stylings. 'The only place you can find it is on Cape Breton Island. 'It's not a very common fiddle style,' says MacMaster. MacMaster's traditional Cape Breton fiddling style is based on a rich Highland Scotland repertoire of 17th-, 18th-, and 19th-century airs, strathspeys, marches, jigs, reels, and hornpipes. Two years later she performed at Expo 86 in Vancouver. At 12 she toured the North American Celtic festival circuit. As a child, she jammed with Cape Breton fiddlers Buddy MacMaster (her uncle) and Ashley MacIsaac (a distant cousin). She made her debut playing at Cape Breton square dances, and for three years travelled to mainland Antigonish to study violin with Stan Chapman. When she was nine years old her great-uncle gave her a miniature violin, and she began to learn traditional fiddle tunes by ear. Natalie MacMaster's mother taught her to step dance at age five. Thomas) 2003, hon D MUS (Niagara U, NY) 2006. Fiddler, step dancer, composer, producer, teacher, b Inverness County, NS, B Ed (Nova Scotia Teachers' College), hon doctorate (St. Natalie MacMaster's traditional Cape Breton fiddling style is based on a rich Highland Scotland repertoire from the 17th to 19th centuries (photo by Richard Beland, courtesy Natalie MacMaster).

Macmaster sports camp