Biography
Fiddler/Entertainer
- Vancouver Island Music Fest—Courtenay, BC
- John Arcand Fiddle Festival—Saskatoon, SK
- Miami Fiddle Festival—Miami, Manitoba
- Festival of American Fiddle Tunes—Port Townsend, Washington
- BC Provincial Fiddle Champion—2008 & 2009
- Canadian Grand Masters National Contest Top 10—2008 & 2009
- Featured on APTN Children’s Show “Tiga Talk”
- Recipient of Aboriginal Mentor Award
- Recordings
- «Want To Have A Few Tunes» (2005)
- «Groove» (2009)
Born and raised in Manitoba, Alex followed his mom around to old time dances, fiddle camps, and music performances. He first picked up the fiddle at the age of 5 and after “fiddling” around for a couple of years, the discovery process continued. By age 7, the passion for music became apparent and Alex started getting "serious" about playing the fiddle.
Now at age 18, and living in Courtenay, British Columbia, Alex is very active in the competition circuits in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and BC. His resume is already chalked full of first place rankings at prestigious events including the John Arcand Fiddle Fest in Saskatoon, SK and the North American Fiddle Championships in Edmonton, AB. Alex is a past International Junior Champion and in 2006 placed among the top 5 in the 18 & Under category at the Canadian Championships in Shelburne, ON. Alex is also busy teaching students every week and is getting to be a regular instructor on the BC Fiddle Camp circuit.
Alex is the 2008 & 2009 BC Fiddle Champ and placed first in the Championship class at contests in Kamloops, Saskatoon, Abbotsford, and Prince George, just to name a few. He most recently was ranked in the top 10 fiddlers overall at the Canadian Grand Masters National Fiddling Championship held in Ottawa, ON in August 2008 & 2009.
Alex has become a mentor and ambassador to other Métis youth across Canada and recently received a special Aboriginal recognition award from his school for his academic and musical talents.
In the summer of 2005, Alex released his first CD entitled, "Want to Have a Few Tunes?" This live recording captures Alex's strong playfulness and sense of humor with its "house party" atmosphere. The project is truly a testament to Alex's strong "feel" and "drive" in his fiddle playing. It's impossible to keep your feet still while listening to Alex play! A brand new solo album entitled “Groove” was released in 2009, to huge acclaim.
Some of Alex’s performance highlights in the past few years have included:
- British High Commission – Ottawa, ON
- National Library of Canada for the Ambassador to Ireland – Ottawa, ON
- Métis Nation of Ontario – Ottawa, ON
- Kasheschewan First Nation Water Crisis Evacuee Welcome Dinner – Ottawa, ON
- National Aboriginal Youth Conference – Gatineau, PQ
- Red River West – Victoria, BC
- Métis National Council Conference – Bear Mountain Resort, Victoria, BC
- Métis National Council Annual General Assembly 2009—Vancouver, BC
- Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Victory Ceremony Performance – Vancouver, BC
Alex is an incredibly charismatic and charming young performer on stage. As the house lights dim, Alex drifts into a higher level of musical awareness. An obvious synergy is generated between the fiddle and himself as the raw emotion and heart are melded with the tightly wound strings and rich flavors of the fiddle music he loves.