PROGRAMS
Tusarnaarniq Sivumut Association is proud to support the following groups and projects:
- Current Fiddle Workshops in Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet, Qikiqtarjuaq, Hall Beach, Igloolik and Cape Dorset
- Qikiaqtarjuaq Music Club (Winter/Spring 2018 & 2019)
What are we working on now?
2019 Spring Workshop - April 1st - 27th
Greg Simm and fiddle instructor, Kim de Laforest are visiting Nunavut for TSA's 20th time, this spring. They are scheduled to visit Hall Beach, Qikiqtarjuaq, Pangnirtung, Igloolik and Pond Inlet. Stay tuned for more updates and photos!
2019 Fall Workshop - coming up in October!
- Current Fiddle Workshops in Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet, Qikiqtarjuaq, Hall Beach, Igloolik and Cape Dorset
- Qikiaqtarjuaq Music Club (Winter/Spring 2018 & 2019)
What are we working on now?
2019 Spring Workshop - April 1st - 27th
Greg Simm and fiddle instructor, Kim de Laforest are visiting Nunavut for TSA's 20th time, this spring. They are scheduled to visit Hall Beach, Qikiqtarjuaq, Pangnirtung, Igloolik and Pond Inlet. Stay tuned for more updates and photos!
2019 Fall Workshop - coming up in October!
Who are our Fiddle Workshop Instructors that travel to Nunavut?
GREG SIMM Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring/Fall 2010, Spring/Fall 2011, Spring/Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Spring/Fall 2014, Spring/Fall 2015, Spring/Fall 2016, Spring/Fall 2017, Spring/Fall 2018, Winter/Spring/Fall 2019
Greg has been a prominent figure on the East Coast music scene for more than thirty-five years. Beginning with performing for country-dances when he was fifteen years old, he has been in constant demand as an instrumentalist, arranger, teacher and producer ever since. He is a product of the Windsor Regional High School band under the direction of Brian Johnston. For twenty-five years, Greg held many roles with the Ship’s Company Theatre in Parrsboro, NS including musician, musical director, sound-scape composer and board member. His music has been heard in fifteen main stage productions at SCT. In partnership with then Artistic Producer Pamela Halstead, he founded the Ship’s Company Theatre Fiddle Camp in 2006 and the popular autumn Main Stage Concert Event the same year.
Teaching and presenting music workshops has taken Greg across the country many times from Coast to Coast to Coast. Most notable is his ongoing relationship with the Tusarnaarniq Sivumut Association that he co-founded with Lunenburg County educator Julie Lohnes. The organization is dedicated to provide ongoing musical education for Inuit youth in some of the most remote communities in Canada. Since 2007, he has been presenting workshops on around Baffin Island and he is also a board member of the organization.
As a multi-instrumentalist (guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, tuba, bouzouki, and keyboards), Greg has been heard in a variety of live performances and recording sessions over the years. He has appeared with and/or recorded with artists as diverse as Grammy Award winner Denny Doherty (lead singer of the Mamas and Papas), Lennie Gallant, Kendra MacGillivray, Richard Wood, John Gracie, Teresa Ennis, Alistair Macdonald, Kelli Trottier, Brian Vardigans, Finnan Haddie and children’s entertainers Donna And Andy. For over twenty-five years, he has worked with Master Fiddler Gordon Stobbe on a variety of musical projects across the country. His current group “Prairie Sea” features longtime musical friend Jim Bell on Hammered Dulcimer and Saskatoon based violinist Kim de Laforest. Their debut CD “Prairie Sea” was nominated for a 2013 Music Nova Scotia Award in the “Traditional Folk” category. Greg has been recognized four times as a finalist for Music Nova Scotia’s “Educator Of The Year” for his work across the country and as a private instructor in Nova Scotia.
www.gregsimm.com
Greg has been a prominent figure on the East Coast music scene for more than thirty-five years. Beginning with performing for country-dances when he was fifteen years old, he has been in constant demand as an instrumentalist, arranger, teacher and producer ever since. He is a product of the Windsor Regional High School band under the direction of Brian Johnston. For twenty-five years, Greg held many roles with the Ship’s Company Theatre in Parrsboro, NS including musician, musical director, sound-scape composer and board member. His music has been heard in fifteen main stage productions at SCT. In partnership with then Artistic Producer Pamela Halstead, he founded the Ship’s Company Theatre Fiddle Camp in 2006 and the popular autumn Main Stage Concert Event the same year.
Teaching and presenting music workshops has taken Greg across the country many times from Coast to Coast to Coast. Most notable is his ongoing relationship with the Tusarnaarniq Sivumut Association that he co-founded with Lunenburg County educator Julie Lohnes. The organization is dedicated to provide ongoing musical education for Inuit youth in some of the most remote communities in Canada. Since 2007, he has been presenting workshops on around Baffin Island and he is also a board member of the organization.
As a multi-instrumentalist (guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, tuba, bouzouki, and keyboards), Greg has been heard in a variety of live performances and recording sessions over the years. He has appeared with and/or recorded with artists as diverse as Grammy Award winner Denny Doherty (lead singer of the Mamas and Papas), Lennie Gallant, Kendra MacGillivray, Richard Wood, John Gracie, Teresa Ennis, Alistair Macdonald, Kelli Trottier, Brian Vardigans, Finnan Haddie and children’s entertainers Donna And Andy. For over twenty-five years, he has worked with Master Fiddler Gordon Stobbe on a variety of musical projects across the country. His current group “Prairie Sea” features longtime musical friend Jim Bell on Hammered Dulcimer and Saskatoon based violinist Kim de Laforest. Their debut CD “Prairie Sea” was nominated for a 2013 Music Nova Scotia Award in the “Traditional Folk” category. Greg has been recognized four times as a finalist for Music Nova Scotia’s “Educator Of The Year” for his work across the country and as a private instructor in Nova Scotia.
www.gregsimm.com
KIM DE LAFOREST Spring 2014, Spring/Fall 2015, Spring/Fall 2016, Spring/Fall 2017, Spring/Fall 2018, Spring/Fall 2019
Kim de Laforest is a fiddle, violin, and viola performer and teacher based in Saskatoon. In her classical world, Kim spent 10 years with the Regina Symphony Orchestra before moving to Saskatoon in 2000. As a member of the Saskatoon Symphony, Kim has served as the assistant concertmaster, principal second violin, principal viola, and section violin and viola player. She has been soloist, concertmaster, and section player of the University of Regina's Chamber Orchestra, Musica Viva, and the South Saskatchewan Youth Orchestra. Kim has also been very involved in chamber music groups across the province. Some highlights include Prairie Virtuosi, Saskatoon Composers' Society Concerts, Musici Amati, and the house band for CBC Christmas concerts. For two seasons, Kim was the Assistant Director of Saskatoon’s Mysterium Healing Sound Choir.
Kim plays with local Irish band Siamsa as well as doing a lot of solo fiddle work. Kim released her first solo CD Kindred Spirits in 2004 and was featured on CBC's DiscDrive during its Saskatchewan tour. During Juno Fest 2007 in Saskatoon, Kim's performance was recorded for CBC's Canada Live.
Kim’s second solo CD ‘Transitions’ was released in November 2011. As a part of the trio Prairie Sea (fiddle, guitar, dulcimer and vocal ensemble based in Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan), Kim released a CD in the spring of 2013. This CD was nominated for a 2013 Music Nova Scotia award.
As well as being a busy performer, Kim is also a sought-after instructor and adjudicator. She currently teaches a large studio of students in Saskatoon. Kim joins an international roster of instructors to teach at fiddle camps in Prince Albert, LaRonge, Moose Jaw, Tisdale, Bowsman MB, at the Clear Lake Fiddle Camp ( Clear Lake, MB ), the Tuffnell Fiddle Camp, the Frontier Fiddlers Camp ( in Manitoba ) and at the Kenosee Lake Kitchen Party. Kim has also worked with students at orchestral workshops in Regina and Saskatoon. As a part of Music for the Future workshops (Tusarnaarniq Sivamut Association – TSA), Kim teaches in communities around Baffin Island.
www.kimdelaforest.com
Kim de Laforest is a fiddle, violin, and viola performer and teacher based in Saskatoon. In her classical world, Kim spent 10 years with the Regina Symphony Orchestra before moving to Saskatoon in 2000. As a member of the Saskatoon Symphony, Kim has served as the assistant concertmaster, principal second violin, principal viola, and section violin and viola player. She has been soloist, concertmaster, and section player of the University of Regina's Chamber Orchestra, Musica Viva, and the South Saskatchewan Youth Orchestra. Kim has also been very involved in chamber music groups across the province. Some highlights include Prairie Virtuosi, Saskatoon Composers' Society Concerts, Musici Amati, and the house band for CBC Christmas concerts. For two seasons, Kim was the Assistant Director of Saskatoon’s Mysterium Healing Sound Choir.
Kim plays with local Irish band Siamsa as well as doing a lot of solo fiddle work. Kim released her first solo CD Kindred Spirits in 2004 and was featured on CBC's DiscDrive during its Saskatchewan tour. During Juno Fest 2007 in Saskatoon, Kim's performance was recorded for CBC's Canada Live.
Kim’s second solo CD ‘Transitions’ was released in November 2011. As a part of the trio Prairie Sea (fiddle, guitar, dulcimer and vocal ensemble based in Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan), Kim released a CD in the spring of 2013. This CD was nominated for a 2013 Music Nova Scotia award.
As well as being a busy performer, Kim is also a sought-after instructor and adjudicator. She currently teaches a large studio of students in Saskatoon. Kim joins an international roster of instructors to teach at fiddle camps in Prince Albert, LaRonge, Moose Jaw, Tisdale, Bowsman MB, at the Clear Lake Fiddle Camp ( Clear Lake, MB ), the Tuffnell Fiddle Camp, the Frontier Fiddlers Camp ( in Manitoba ) and at the Kenosee Lake Kitchen Party. Kim has also worked with students at orchestral workshops in Regina and Saskatoon. As a part of Music for the Future workshops (Tusarnaarniq Sivamut Association – TSA), Kim teaches in communities around Baffin Island.
www.kimdelaforest.com
AMEENA BAJER-KOULACK Winter 2019
Ameena has been playing fiddle from the age of five, when her dad taught her to play her very first fiddle tune; Boil them Cabbages. Since then, she has explored various musical forms, studying classical violin, piano, clawhammer banjo, voice, and traditional fiddle music. She played and recorded traditional Jewish music with the Klezmer Kids for seven years, toured with the Knappen Street All-Star Band, and regularly plays music with Winnipeg bluegrass band Hay Fever and with her dad, multi-instrumentalist Daniel Koulack.
A passionate and charismatic teacher, she is in high demand as a workshop instructor, and regularly teaches both privately and at camps in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. She also runs Falcon Lake Fiddle Camp, a non-profit music camp in Manitoba that aims to promote traditional music, inter-generational learning, environmental sustainability, and community building through music.
In addition to her musical accomplishments, Ameena has a degree in Environmental Science, and is working on her TESL Canada certification to teach English to adult newcomers. She is also an experienced canoeist, textile artist, nature interpreter, and gardener, speaks three languages fluently, and coordinates many community events. Whether it’s environmental science, handicrafts, languages, or music, the common thread for Ameena is a love of sharing knowledge and skills with others, and building community through collective activities.
Ameena has been playing fiddle from the age of five, when her dad taught her to play her very first fiddle tune; Boil them Cabbages. Since then, she has explored various musical forms, studying classical violin, piano, clawhammer banjo, voice, and traditional fiddle music. She played and recorded traditional Jewish music with the Klezmer Kids for seven years, toured with the Knappen Street All-Star Band, and regularly plays music with Winnipeg bluegrass band Hay Fever and with her dad, multi-instrumentalist Daniel Koulack.
A passionate and charismatic teacher, she is in high demand as a workshop instructor, and regularly teaches both privately and at camps in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. She also runs Falcon Lake Fiddle Camp, a non-profit music camp in Manitoba that aims to promote traditional music, inter-generational learning, environmental sustainability, and community building through music.
In addition to her musical accomplishments, Ameena has a degree in Environmental Science, and is working on her TESL Canada certification to teach English to adult newcomers. She is also an experienced canoeist, textile artist, nature interpreter, and gardener, speaks three languages fluently, and coordinates many community events. Whether it’s environmental science, handicrafts, languages, or music, the common thread for Ameena is a love of sharing knowledge and skills with others, and building community through collective activities.
GORDON STOBBE
Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring/Fall 2010, Spring/Fall 2011, Spring/Fall 2012
Gordon, originally from Saskatchewan, has made his home on the East Coast of Canada since 1977. His musical interests lie in the field of traditional music, especially as it is expressed in the wide variety of North American fiddle styles. He plays several instruments including fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and clawhammer banjo.
His musical career is wide and varied. His performance history, besides his work in bands, includes co-creating, hosting, and musical directing eight seasons of a traditional music television variety program on the ATV/CTV Network, called Up Home Tonight in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Gordon developed a teaching program at Musicstop's Canadian Conservatory of Music at its inception, and continues to teach there (now Long and McQuade Music Education Centre). He is a repeat instructor at numerous fiddle workshops and fiddle camps across Canada, including the Maritime Fiddler's Association Workshop in Truro, Parrsboro Fiddle Camp and the Nova Scotia Music Educators Association; Tobique Fiddle Camp in New Brunswick; Ottawa Fiddle Camp, Tamworth Keep It Simple Workshops and Canadian Grand Masters Camp in Ontario; John Arcand Fiddle Camp, the Emma Lake Fiddle Camp and Kenossee Camp in Saskatchewan; Calvin Vollrath Fiddle Camp, and workshops in Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer in Alberta; Hope Fiddle Camp, the Kootenay Fiddlers in Castlegar, Fiddlefest Workshops in Smithers, Fiddle 'Treat in Gavin Lake and Sunshine Coast Summer School of Celtic Music in Robert's Creek in B.C.; the Yukon Fiddle Camp in Whitehorse, Yukon.
Gordon is a composer on the fiddle and has many recording and publishing projects to his credit. His CD, 'Small World' was nominated for Best Roots / Traditional Solo Artist at the 2003 East Coast Music Awards. He has published many fiddle books with more to come. He has written several fiddle instruction books and has published tune collections of traditional as well as original music. These resources are now being used by fiddle teachers across Canada and the United States. He has recorded with artists across Canada. He has co-written fiddle music with Calvin Vollrath, John Arcand, Patti Lamoureux, Oliver Schroer, Shamma Sabir, Paul Gitlitz, Bernie Jaffe, and others.
Gordon is a regular contributor to Fiddler Magazine.
Throughout his performance career Gordon has played with a variety of bands, including the Dixie Flyers in Ontario, before settling in the Maritimes where he played with the Ladies Choice Bluegrass Band, Those Fabulous Clichés, the Mighty Oak String Band and the Gordon Stobbe Trio (traditional fiddle styles of North America).
Gordon was named a Member of the Order of Canada on December 29, 2017 by Governor General Julie Payette “for his commitment to the preservation of fiddle music as a performer, composer and teacher.” Congratulations, Gordon!
www.fiddlebooks.com
Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring/Fall 2010, Spring/Fall 2011, Spring/Fall 2012
Gordon, originally from Saskatchewan, has made his home on the East Coast of Canada since 1977. His musical interests lie in the field of traditional music, especially as it is expressed in the wide variety of North American fiddle styles. He plays several instruments including fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and clawhammer banjo.
His musical career is wide and varied. His performance history, besides his work in bands, includes co-creating, hosting, and musical directing eight seasons of a traditional music television variety program on the ATV/CTV Network, called Up Home Tonight in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Gordon developed a teaching program at Musicstop's Canadian Conservatory of Music at its inception, and continues to teach there (now Long and McQuade Music Education Centre). He is a repeat instructor at numerous fiddle workshops and fiddle camps across Canada, including the Maritime Fiddler's Association Workshop in Truro, Parrsboro Fiddle Camp and the Nova Scotia Music Educators Association; Tobique Fiddle Camp in New Brunswick; Ottawa Fiddle Camp, Tamworth Keep It Simple Workshops and Canadian Grand Masters Camp in Ontario; John Arcand Fiddle Camp, the Emma Lake Fiddle Camp and Kenossee Camp in Saskatchewan; Calvin Vollrath Fiddle Camp, and workshops in Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer in Alberta; Hope Fiddle Camp, the Kootenay Fiddlers in Castlegar, Fiddlefest Workshops in Smithers, Fiddle 'Treat in Gavin Lake and Sunshine Coast Summer School of Celtic Music in Robert's Creek in B.C.; the Yukon Fiddle Camp in Whitehorse, Yukon.
Gordon is a composer on the fiddle and has many recording and publishing projects to his credit. His CD, 'Small World' was nominated for Best Roots / Traditional Solo Artist at the 2003 East Coast Music Awards. He has published many fiddle books with more to come. He has written several fiddle instruction books and has published tune collections of traditional as well as original music. These resources are now being used by fiddle teachers across Canada and the United States. He has recorded with artists across Canada. He has co-written fiddle music with Calvin Vollrath, John Arcand, Patti Lamoureux, Oliver Schroer, Shamma Sabir, Paul Gitlitz, Bernie Jaffe, and others.
Gordon is a regular contributor to Fiddler Magazine.
Throughout his performance career Gordon has played with a variety of bands, including the Dixie Flyers in Ontario, before settling in the Maritimes where he played with the Ladies Choice Bluegrass Band, Those Fabulous Clichés, the Mighty Oak String Band and the Gordon Stobbe Trio (traditional fiddle styles of North America).
Gordon was named a Member of the Order of Canada on December 29, 2017 by Governor General Julie Payette “for his commitment to the preservation of fiddle music as a performer, composer and teacher.” Congratulations, Gordon!
www.fiddlebooks.com
