I started playing violin as a 7-year-old after my parents surprised me with a violin on Christmas after countless comments on how much I loved the sound of the violin. My parents probably didn’t realize what a life-long gift that would become, and it’s probably the best gift I’ve ever received.

I starting learning classical music and played sacred music in my church as I grew up. I learned to read music in my violin lessons, but loved to play by ear on my own. I stopped taking lessons in high school and really didn’t do much with it in college, although I never let it collect too much dust. It wasn’t until I was 26 and pregnant with my first son that I had the chance to sit down with a bluegrass band to see what they were all about, and a new love emerged. I was adopted on the spot as a new and clueless member of the Eight Mile River Band - what an awesome group of guys! I was kind of thrown into the mix with no prior knowledge of anything bluegrass other than the memories of my Grandpa listening to it when I visited him as a child. I always had an ear to harmonize and I just loved the close harmonies of bluegrass!

I have no formal training in voice, which is probably obvious, but I do love to sing. I sang all the time as a child. I grew up on a farm and would sing at the top of my lungs during my farm chores, and in the milking parlor when everyone had gone home for the day - it had the best acoustics! I remember singing on the big metal gate to the cows and they would gather around and listen. Singing to people was another story. I have a bit of a shy streak, but Tom Vernon, who heads up the Eight Mile River Band, and who has also become a close friend of the family, gently pushed me to sing, and I appreciate the nudge and the vote of confidence he gave me - it has gone a really long way.

I have played violin for many weddings - ceremonies and receptions. I play a variety of music, from bluegrass fiddling and vocals in the Eight Mile River Band, to movie themes and new pop songs to traditional old songs appropriate for weddings or other events. I have played a variety of church/sacred music as well and am always open to learning something new as I learn new music quickly. I am available for hire as a single musician, with piano accompaniment, or with Tom Vernon on guitar. Please contact me with any questions.

These are not professional recordings, but take a listen to some music from some jams with my fellow musicians to get an idea of some of the music I play:

Tom Vernon, guitar, mandolin

Marsh Dubaldo, mandolin

Bink Cooper, dobro

Don Urbanic, banjo