The Mile High Chapter of the Arizona Old Time Fiddlers encompasses the Yavapai County areas of
Prescott, Chino Valley, Paulden, Dewey, Humboldt, Prescott Valley, Spring Valley, Mayer, and Cordes.
They meet every third Sunday from 12:30 to 3 PM at Orchard Ranch Mobile Home Park, 11250 E. SR 69, in Dewey, AZ.
Come on out and join us!! For more info please call Dusty Spitler, 928-925-3911..
Officers for 2010 are as follows:
Ray Sealing - President
Oscar Gray - Vice President
Dusty Spitler - Secretary
Mary Leavitt - Treasurer
Board Members: Ruth Gilpin, Louis Mackall, Elaine Mace and Marilyn Sealing
Spotlight on Brandi Schaan
It
is said that dynamite comes in small packages and here is one small package to
prove it. Brandi was born with a natural talent for music, but it wasn’t until
she was 3 years old that her Great Grandparents, Ralph and Betty Hintz bought
her a small fiddle to add to her collection of toys, that they discovered they
had a little musical genius on their hands.
Just barely out of her toddler stage Brandi demonstrated a fascination for the
fiddle. After only a few lessons Brandi was standing on stage playing her heart
out for her audience.
Brandi exhibits stage presence, poise and confidence, way beyond her years. At
age twelve, she’s an extraordinary entertainer and dedicated musician who
mesmerizes her audience with riveting fiddle tunes like Orange Blossom Special,
dreamy waltzes and hoedowns.
The sweetheart of the Mile High Chapter of the Arizona Old Time Fiddlers, Brandi
was one of the first students who took advantage of the Mile High Chapter’s Mary
Hill Memorial Scholarship Program. Since then she has continued her musical
advancement, playing classical violin as well as well as mastering the art of
old time fiddling. Her passion for learning has expanded and progressed to other
string instruments, the mandolin and guitar.
A grade-A student, Brandi excels in her
scholastic studies as well, holding the honor of making the Principals List and
the Honor Roll for the entire school year.
Soft spoken and quick to smile, Brandi is humble and self disciplined, she has
won many fiddle contests and awards statewide. Those who have been privileged to
hear her music acclaim Brandi is destined to great accomplishments as she
travels the road of life.
By Mary Leavitt
Chapter News
This modest lady is no stranger to awards and recognition for her accomplishments, but being the humble and unpretentious person she is,
she is always surprised and happy when she is recognized.
Ruth Gilpin was inducted into the AOTFA Hall of Fame in March, 2010. Ruth was
chosen for her lifetime of dedication for preserving and
promoting old time fiddling and her endeavors over the years in building the solid foundation of the Mile High Chapter.
The Mile High Chapter of the AOTFA is very proud of Ruth and her accomplishments.
(Article from the Prescott Newspaper)
PRESCOTT - Johan "Bix" Glidden, a 12-year-old fiddler sensation from Prescott, gave a foot-stomping, hand-clapping, and crowd-howling performance on Tuesday night at the Raven Cafe.
"I think he's amazing," said Katie Spears, a Yavapai College student. "Bix is really cool."
Bix took the stage with The Prescott Playboys country-western swing band. He left after the first set because it was getting close to his bedtime.
"Bix is going to be a great star," guitarist Jerry Johnson said. "Look out, Nashville."
The five-member Playboys band did not hesitate to invite Bix to play with them after they heard him play Ervin T. Rouse's "Orange Blossom Special."
"That's my favorite song," Bix said before going on stage. "It's really fun to play."
Bix is similar to other 12-year-olds, with the exception of his natural music talent. He speaks quietly, smiles a lot, and appears bemused by the attention he gets from the audience.
"He's a good fiddler. He's way ahead of his age," Playboys fiddler Ray Gardner said. "I've never met anyone with that talent at his age."
Gardner, 87, started playing when he was about 12 years old. The former Mayer schoolteacher has taken Bix under his wing to help him learn country-swing fiddling.
When Bix is on stage, Gardner steps back. After each song, Bix looks to Gardner for a quick assessment.
"Atta boy. Good job," Gardner says with a clap on Bix's shoulder.
"He didn't know country-western swing style music," bandleader Fred Spears said of Bix. "You just look at him and he anticipates what you want. He knows just when to come in and out."
Bix also plays guitar, piano and classical violin. When he plays classical music he is "Johan" and when he plays fiddle he is "Bix", said Moses Glidden, his father. "When he was 3 years old he said he wanted to play a fiddle," said Moses, who is an English teacher at Yavapai College. "We bought him two toy fiddles to start with."
"We don't care which way he goes - classical or swing - we're just proud to help him learn music," guitarist Ken Heide said.
The Playboys formed in 2001 specifically to play country-western swing. The band's repertoire leans heavily toward superstar Bob Wills' honky-tonk swing style music, although they mix their sets with contemporary tunes. The Playboys titled their 2002 CD "A Tribute to Bob Wills".
Charlinda Webster came to the Raven to do some dancing and thinks Bix is "magnificent". A table full of Bix's family and friends agree with Webster. "For sure he'll be famous," said 19-year-old Sunshine Wiesner, a neighbor and friend of the Gliddens. "I wish he would hurry and grow up so we could get married."
"He's lucky his parents are so supportive. When I started playing fiddle, I got sent to the woodshed because my parents couldn't stand to hear me," said Gardner, who is known for spinning tall tales. "About a year later, my Ma came by and listened and told Pa that she thought I was good enough to let back in the house."
When Bix plays fiddle, he stands still while his fingers and bow dance across the strings.
"It feels good on stage," he said. "But a lot depends on the people and the place. I like playing with friends."
Three members of the Mile High Chapter did well at the State Fiddle Contest in Payson, this past September.
Brandi Schaan won first place in the youth division.
Blaine Cone took 2nd place in the Senior Division and
Ruth Gilpin earned the 4th place spot in the Senior Division.
Sharlot Hall Award Recipient
The story about Ruth receiving the Sharlot Hall Award is highlighted on the News link.
Welcome to Our Newest Fiddler!!
Marilyn Sealing is the Mile High's newest fiddler. An accomplished musician, she has been an active member of the AOTFA for several years, playing the acoustic guitar and bass. Marilyn began playing the fiddle about a year ago and has already entered her first fiddling contest in Wyoming.
Mary Hill Memorial Scholarship
In
an effort to promote old time fiddling to the youth of the community, the Mile
High Chapter established the Mary Hill Memorial Scholarship Program in 2008.
Mary Hill, a dedicated member was the force behind establishing the program to involve youth in the art of old time fiddling. Subsequent to her passing in the summer of 2008, members thought it an appropriate gesture to name the scholarship in her honor.
The Mile High chapter, one of five in the Arizona State Association is fifty members strong and growing. It attained statewide and national recognition for being the first to offer a scholarship program.
Each scholarship entitles recipients to twenty lessons. Since the program was initiated, ten students have completed the program and five are currently enrolled. Recipients are chosen from the area schools and newspaper announcements.
One of our future goals is to interest guitar and bass players to merge with the fiddlers and create their own group. We encourage students to attend our monthly concerts and be an active part of the chapter.
The program is highly successful and the community is showing great enthusiasm with generous donations toward the cause. Hopefully the donations will continue, enabling this to be an ongoing project.
Entertaining at one of our many events
