A local teen who took top spot at the Prince George Old Time Fiddlers 42nd annual contest in April will now go on to compete at the provincial level.
Gabrielle Jacob, 14, and her 11-year-old brother, Noah, will be taking to the road to compete in the provincial Old Time Fiddling championships Saturday at the Cumberland Cultural Centre on Vancouver Island.
Gabrielle and Noah just returned from the B.C. Old Time Fiddlers Branch No. 7 contest in Kelowna where Gabrielle took top spot in the open category, while Noah took fifth in the junior category. Days earlier Gabrielle competed in a classical competition during the Performing Arts Festival in Kamloops held June 5 to 9 where she earned an honourable mention for her efforts.
With Old Time fiddle music, people are encouraged to pick up the violin and play by ear. During the contest, each competitor plays a waltz, a jig and a reel.
Gabrielle said she enjoys the challenge that came when she moved to the open category.
"It's really exciting to compete in the open category," said Gabrielle.
Especially after not doing so well last year, she added. She's now more confident after showing improvements, and knows how it came about.
"I practiced more and my tunes are better this year," said Gabrielle.
Gabrielle is a Grade 10 classically trained violinist and said she is very grateful to her teacher, Jose Delgado of the Prince George Conservatory of Music.
To hone her skills even more, Gabrielle will be attending the Gavin Lake Fiddle Treat for a Week later this summer where she will learn more tunes.
Old time fiddle music is steeped in Prince George history as Mike St. Germain and 10 others founded the Old Time Fiddlers in 1969.
Most recently the local club had their 42nd annual celebration of fiddling with special guest Daniel Lapp in concert and a day-long fiddle contest as well as a dinner and a pancake breakfast.
The Old Time Fiddlers Association in Prince George, Branch No. 1, is always looking for new members as the majority of their 160 members are older and they are looking for some young players to carry on the tradition.
The Thursday night fiddle jam sessions that take a vacation in July and August are the place to be to teach, learn and play the fiddle at the Elder Citizens Rec Centre and will resume Sept. 8.
