Who’s supporting the project this fall?

Many thanks to our generous individual donors AND to these generous grantors:

Grey Fox
Grey Fox Educational Fund typically supports scholarships for young people studying bluegrass at a college or university, but when they accepted the proposal to support the RI Fiddle Project because they value passing down these traditions to the next generation of young people. The award was announced from the main stage of the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in July 2010.

Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
Rachel received an Individual Artist Grant for this Education Project, based at Woodlawn Community Development Corporation. "Through Project Grants for Individuals, RISCA supports highly creative and talented artists who seek to produce, perform, teach or share their work with the public." This fall the RI Fiddle Project is made possible in part by a grant from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, through an appropriation by the RI General Assembly and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation
Provided funds specifically for the purchase of small audio recorders that can fit in students’ violin cases. These recorders can be used to record fiddle tunes at lessons as well as students’ practice at home. "The purpose of the Foundation is to fund needs that contribute to the economic and social well-being of the people and institutions located in the greater Attleboro/Taunton and greater New Bedford, Massachusetts area and the Pawtucket, Rhode Island area."

Country Dance & Song Society
Lent support from the New Leaders, Good Leaders Fund to help to kick-start the additional Fiddler-in-Residence role. One of CDSS' value statements is to "Promote the traditions, while providing an environment where they can continue to grow and evolve for the enjoyment of future generations" www.cdss.org

New year, new fiddler, and more news to come

Day 1, Year 2! Here we are dancing to the music of Ex Pirata, a fiddle & accordion duo (typically a trio with 2 fiddles) from Canada and France, respectively -- who we were very lucky to hear while they were both in the area!

This was also the day that fiddler & educator Michelle Kaminsky joined the project as our second Fiddler-in-Residence -- so exciting for all of us involved! More news soon about Michelle and about other excitement that's in the works. Stay tuned...