FEBRUARY 22, 2025 | 9:00-2:30 PM
Hosted in conjunction with ASTA AZ and sponsored by Milano Music, Fiddle Fest is a day for string players of any age, both students and teachers, to explore different fiddling traditions. All ability levels and bowed string instruments (violin, viola, cello, and bass!) are welcome. It is a packed day of fun tunes, new techniques, grooving, and performances from students and professionals.
Saturday, February 22nd
9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Basha High School
5990 S Val Vista Dr.
Chandler, AZ 85249
While the event is geared towards student-aged musicians, teachers and young professionals are also welcome to participate and/or observe classes throughout the day! ASTA members can attend for free; non-ASTA teachers can attend for $20.
We are especially excited to share that this year's guest instructors are Devon Gardner (fiddle & guitar) & Adam Gurczak (bass)! These Boston-based musicians, both originally from the East Valley, have been making waves in New England as artists and educators, both solo and together as a folk duo (So Blue). With their vast performance experiences and educational chops, we are excited to bring them back home to teach, share with, and perform for our community!
At the end of the day, there will be a free concert for the community at 1:00 PM in the Basha HS Auditorium featuring our Guest Artists, Gilbert Town Fiddlers staff and students, and all Fiddle Fest Participants!
Saturday, February 22nd
9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Basha High School
5990 S Val Vista Dr.
Chandler, AZ 85249
While the event is geared towards student-aged musicians, teachers and young professionals are also welcome to participate and/or observe classes throughout the day! ASTA members can attend for free; non-ASTA teachers can attend for $20.
We are especially excited to share that this year's guest instructors are Devon Gardner (fiddle & guitar) & Adam Gurczak (bass)! These Boston-based musicians, both originally from the East Valley, have been making waves in New England as artists and educators, both solo and together as a folk duo (So Blue). With their vast performance experiences and educational chops, we are excited to bring them back home to teach, share with, and perform for our community!
At the end of the day, there will be a free concert for the community at 1:00 PM in the Basha HS Auditorium featuring our Guest Artists, Gilbert Town Fiddlers staff and students, and all Fiddle Fest Participants!
ABOUT DEVON GARDNER (Fiddle & Guitar)
On a dark and stormy night, Devon Gardner touched an old relic, also known as the fiddle, and from henceforth he began a 20 year long journey that will continue for the ages. Since 2015, Devon has studied the traditions of American Roots Music and has collaborated with renown artists such as Joe K Walsh, Bruce Molsky, Darol Anger, Michael Daves, and many others. In 2023, Devon performed with Nefesh Mountain as part of the inaugural USDA Jewish American Heritage Month celebration held in Washington, DC.
As a bandleader of folk trios, Pretty Saro and Red Luck, he has toured nationwide, released three albums, and performed at festivals/venues including Joe Val Bluegrass Festival, Ossipee Valley Music Festival, Ogden Music Fest, The San Diego Folk Heritage Club, and many more.
He is also the guitarist/singer-songwriter of the folk duo, So Blue, who recently released their debut EP ‘In Water & Waves’ in April, 2024. Devon currently teaches private lessons out of his home in Newton, MA and supports Musically Fed—a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide food to those in need by repurposing unused catering from concerts and events around the nation.
As a bandleader of folk trios, Pretty Saro and Red Luck, he has toured nationwide, released three albums, and performed at festivals/venues including Joe Val Bluegrass Festival, Ossipee Valley Music Festival, Ogden Music Fest, The San Diego Folk Heritage Club, and many more.
He is also the guitarist/singer-songwriter of the folk duo, So Blue, who recently released their debut EP ‘In Water & Waves’ in April, 2024. Devon currently teaches private lessons out of his home in Newton, MA and supports Musically Fed—a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide food to those in need by repurposing unused catering from concerts and events around the nation.
ABOUT ADAM GURCZAK (Bass)
Adam Gurczak is a bassist and creative consultant passionate about the intersection of arts, education, and social change. Equally comfortable in classical, folk, and contemporary styles, he performs as part of the progressive folk duo So Blue, who recently released their debut EP, "In Water and Waves," in April 2024. Adam also performs with various singer-songwriters and indie artists and in ensembles like the New England Symphony, Boston New Music Initiative, Boston Chamber Symphony, New England Philharmonic, and North Shore Philharmonic.
As a teacher, he serves as faculty at the New England Conservatory Prep School and Wayland School of Music, and is a founding faculty member of StringPlay, a creative summer camp for string players focused on skills like arranging, improvising, and performing. Since 2021, he has annually been a guest lecturer at Harvard University’s Strategic Finance for Non-Profit Leaders course and, in 2024, he served on a panel for Music as a Social Force at Berklee College’s Teachers on Teaching conference. He also serves on the board for the Gilbert Town Fiddlers, of which he is an alum.
Adam is part of the 2024-2025 cohort of the Global Leaders Institute, and previously graduated from Boston Conservatory at Berklee with a Master of Music as well as from the University of Arizona with a B.M. in Music Performance, a B.A. in Italian Studies, and a Thematic Minor in Global Studies. Beyond music, he is the Marketing Manager for Silkroad – a non-profit organization and Grammy Award-winning touring ensemble founded by Yo-Yo Ma – and is the co-founder of Almanak Creative, a media production and creative consulting agency that supports artists and arts organizations.
As a teacher, he serves as faculty at the New England Conservatory Prep School and Wayland School of Music, and is a founding faculty member of StringPlay, a creative summer camp for string players focused on skills like arranging, improvising, and performing. Since 2021, he has annually been a guest lecturer at Harvard University’s Strategic Finance for Non-Profit Leaders course and, in 2024, he served on a panel for Music as a Social Force at Berklee College’s Teachers on Teaching conference. He also serves on the board for the Gilbert Town Fiddlers, of which he is an alum.
Adam is part of the 2024-2025 cohort of the Global Leaders Institute, and previously graduated from Boston Conservatory at Berklee with a Master of Music as well as from the University of Arizona with a B.M. in Music Performance, a B.A. in Italian Studies, and a Thematic Minor in Global Studies. Beyond music, he is the Marketing Manager for Silkroad – a non-profit organization and Grammy Award-winning touring ensemble founded by Yo-Yo Ma – and is the co-founder of Almanak Creative, a media production and creative consulting agency that supports artists and arts organizations.
Presented with:
|
Sponsored by:
|
Previous Fiddle Fest Guest Artists include:
Lauren Rioux (2023)
Eli Bender, Melissa Brun, Rachel Capon, Daniel Pentecost, & Lauren Rioux (2021)
Katie McNally & Neil Pearlman (2020)
Brad Phillips (2019)
Half Pelican (Joy Adams & Andy Reiner, 2018)
Adrianna Ciccone & Colin Cotter (2017)
Lauren Rioux & Sten Isak (2015)
Daniel Pentecost (2014)
Michael Rolland (2013)
Sheila Maguire (2012)
Lauren Rioux (2023)
Eli Bender, Melissa Brun, Rachel Capon, Daniel Pentecost, & Lauren Rioux (2021)
Katie McNally & Neil Pearlman (2020)
Brad Phillips (2019)
Half Pelican (Joy Adams & Andy Reiner, 2018)
Adrianna Ciccone & Colin Cotter (2017)
Lauren Rioux & Sten Isak (2015)
Daniel Pentecost (2014)
Michael Rolland (2013)
Sheila Maguire (2012)