An innovative mix of oldtime, Celtic and Texas fiddle music.

18 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Scottish Contemporary, FOLK: Appalachian Folk

Show all album songs: West Road Songs


Details:
About Laura -

An accomplished, award-winning fiddler and violinist, Laura Smith teaches and performs Oldtime, Celtic, Classical and Contest styles with her brother Darin Smith, bringing creativity to her music while staying firmly rooted in acoustic tradition. A versatile musician, Laura is equally comfortable playing fiddle for contra dances or first violin in the Ukiah and Lake County Symphonies.

Currently the Western Open and the California State Young Adult Champion, Laura has also won the Cloverdale Oldtime Fiddle Championships, Wells Nevada State Championships, the Weaverville Open Fiddle Contest, the Marin County Fair Fiddle Contest and the Ukiah Pumpkinfest Fiddle Contest. Laura runs the Redwood Empire Fair Fiddle Contest in Ukiah, CA., and has judged at several other contests including CA. State and Cloverdale.


Her students have taken top prizes at several contests. Laura teaches privately at studios in Potter Valley and Ukiah, and is the director of the Russian River Fiddlers, a group of fiddlers of all ages comprised of her students. Laura also teaches 4th through 8th grade strings and orchestra at the Waldorf School of Mendocino County.

Laura started music on the piano just before she turned four. She studied piano for seven years and dabbled in other instruments before discovering the violin at age thirteen. Laura's many prominent fiddle and violin instructors have included: Darol Anger, Tashina Clarridge, Tristan Clarridge, Megan Lynch and Yoko Atcheson.


About Darin -

Darin Smith is a thirteen year old musician whose playing is notable not only for his mature technical level but also for his exuberant and expressive style. Darin's instruments include cello, fiddle and tenor guitar. He performs with his sister Laura Smith, competes on the fiddle and is the youngest cellist in the Ukiah and Lake County Symphonies. Darin also teaches - he currently has several cello and guitar students.

Darin's first place wins in the Junior Junior division have included the Wells Nevada State Championships, the Carson City Rendezvous Fiddle Contest, Fiddletown Annual Jam and Contest, the Marin County Fair Fiddle Contest, and the Ukiah Pumpkinfest Fiddle Contest. He has also placed second at the California State Championships and at the Cloverdale Oldtime Fiddle Championships, and third at the Western Open. Since he turned thirteen he has placed 3rd at the CA. State Championships and 4th at Cloverdale in the Junior division.

Darin's musical education started with classical violin just before he turned six. At age seven he took up the cello as well. With the help of some great teachers, he explored fiddle styles on both instruments, and picked up the tenor guitar to provide rhythm backup for his sister Laura's fiddling. Darin's prominent instructors have included: Yoko Atcheson (Classical Violin), Tashina Clarridge (Fiddle), Tristan Clarridge (Cello, Tenor Guitar, Fiddle), Megan Lynch (Fiddle), Marcia Sloane (Classical Cello). Darin currently studies cello with Judiyaba.