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Youth fiddle group in Merville for concert

Fiddelium in concert at the Merville Hall Saturday
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Fiddelium plays in Merville Saturday night.

Fiddelium (pronounced “fid-DELL-ium”) is a group of exceptional young Nanaimo-area musicians playing traditional and contemporary fiddle music with a twist.

The performers range in age from 12 to 17 years, and come from a variety of musical training backgrounds including classical, jazz, and folk. Most of the music performed by the group is written or arranged for them by directors Geoff and Trish Horrocks and by Fiddelium members themselves. The group’s material is designed to showcase the individual talents of the performers, and to highlight the creative chemistry of the group as a whole.

This performance is particularly special for one of the group’s directors. Trish Horrocks (Clair) grew up in the Comox Valley and learned to play violin in the Suzuki strings program that once thrived in School District 71.

“My musical development was sparked by exceptional teachers like Corrine Innes and Allan Webster, and nurtured by the rich arts community in the Comox Valley,” Horrocks said. “I’m really excited to be bringing my own students home for this show.”

Last July, Fiddelium played with the Strathcona Symphony Orchestra for the centennial celebrations of the City of Courtenay.

They also appeared at the 2015 Father’s Day Ceilidh in Beacon Hill Park in Victoria. Other notable appearances include the Nanaimo Sings Festival in 2015, Bel Canto Choir’s 2015 Christmas concert series, and Festival Nanaimo 2016.

You can catch Fiddelium in concert at the Merville Hall on Saturday, May 14 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at Long and McQuade, GNC Music, or online at www.fiddelium.com