Bio: Rhiannon

Résumé - Endorsements - Recordings - Achievements - School - Shop - Projects & Writings

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California-born Rhiannon Schmitt (nee Nachbaur) started playing violin at age 12 and lived and breathed classical music during her teen years. In jazz college she was awestruck and intrigued by the vast amount of other music styles and new fusion genres to be learned and played.

She has since dabbled in styles ranging from world to punk, blues to disco, and country to jazz on her 5-string electric violin and acoustically.

Rhiannon (31) incorporates a myriad of influences into a free-spirited way of playing, a classical-celtic-gypsy fusion which has been featured on several albums including Caroline MacKay’s '02 and Bill Olsen's '03 releases.

On occasion she returns to her classical “roots” in concert with composer/pianist Anna Höstman and pianist Anita Liebich. In past years she played first violin with BC orchestras in Kamloops, Rossland and Dawson Creek and in her home city of La Mesa, California.

An active performer, Rhiannon has played around BC with pianist/composer Anna Höstman, improvised with blues guitarist Les Copeland, and hosted local house concerts with pianist Anita Liebich.

In 2006 she won the award for "Classical Artist of the Year" at BC's Okanagan Music Awards and was also the recipient of the Bank of America Achievement Award in the Field of Music in 1995.

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The focal point of Rhiannon's career is teaching, as it allows her to continually inspire other musicians and make a mark in her community. Her dedication to excellence has led her business, Fiddleheads Violin School, to win several distringuished young entrepreneur business awards.

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Rhiannon's business also offers fine stringed instrument sales. Fiddleheads Violin Shop carries beginner to collector's instruments & bows, accessories, sheet music and more.

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Further promoting music in her community, Rhiannon created the Strings Alive festivals, fiddle contests and workshops in Salmon Arm in 2001. In 2003 she formed the Shuswap Violin Society, a non-profit group whose membership includes Canadian music icons Natalie MacMaster and Susanne Hou. As Founding President she has led the SVS to provide scholarships, develop an instrument bank, offer affordable workshops with master players and host seasonal community coffeehouses.

Rhiannon & Mason after a concert.

Rhiannon has volunteered as an events promoter, radio host and as a volunteer orchestra music arranger for School District #83 in recent years. Rhiannon writes a music column for the Music Teacher Magazine and BC Musician Magazine.

Rhiannon is a wife and mother and a fervent Beethoven and classic rock fan.

Rhiannon's family:

Her husband, Mason, is a manager for a local cable ISP. Her seven-year-old son, Ryan, is a budding zoolologist. Mason and Rhiannon were blessed with a second son, Elijah, on April 25, 2008.

Her father, Fred, was a composer, tube aficionado and inventor. He passed away September 27, 2004. Her mother, Vickie, is a wonderful nanny and a creative influence and close friend to Rhiannon. Her brother, Michael, is a world-class programmer and writer and a fun guy to sit side-by-side with while working on laptops.

Rhiannon's father-in-law and his wife operate High Spirits Music and Harps.