Staff
Julian Smedley is the camp director for both weeks of fiddlekids. A brilliant swing-jazz fiddle player and a veteran of the fiddlekids teaching staff, Julian possesses stratospheric expertise balanced by a down-to-earth teaching style, effortless patience, and a natural ability to pace his delivery. The kids love his inventiveness, spontaneity, and wit, and also his swingin' impact on camp. Julian currently coordinates the music programs at the Seattle Waldorf High School, and is a consultant for the 2016 Centrum Vintage Jazz workshop. He also maintains a full schedule as a studio musician, producer, and performer in the Pacific Northwest.
Caroline McCaskey's enthusiastic teaching style has fostered a love of music in both children and adults for over 15 years. Caroline joined the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers at age 12, and went on to tour Northern California for 7 years as the leader of the Fiddlerats contra dance band. She is certified by the Suzuki Association of the Americas for Violin books 1-7, and now teaches Suzuki violin full time at Bristol Elementary School in Colorado Springs. Caroline began as an assistant at fiddlekids in 2002, and joined the ranks of the Instructors in 2009.
Harry Liedstrand is an inspired and energetic fiddler of traditional music from America and the Celtic countries. He studied violin at the UOP Conservatory of Music and earned a Master’s Degree in Ethnomusicology at CSU Fresno. Harry began fiddling with Kenny Hall and the Sweets Mill String Band in the 60’s. Firmly grounded in the American tradition, Harry has been on the teaching staff at fiddlekids and the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes. His performances are positive and uplifting, whether in the classroom or on the stage.
Karen Heil, a skillful, fun, and enthusiastic teacher, is an expert fiddler and guitarist with a special love of old-time southern American fiddle music. Karen has been part of the teaching staff at the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Grass Valley Camp, Lark in the Morning Camp, and the Austin Old Time Festival. She performs with the Bucking Mules and San Francisco's Knuckle Knockers. A natural livewire, she brings lots of spark and current to fiddlekids!
Bobbi Nikles is an acclaimed force in the Bay Area music scene and beyond. The founder of fiddlekids camp, which she led as director for many years, Bobbi also performs in a wide array of bands. Her luscious fiddling and driving rhythm add fuel to every project she's with, including Black Brothers Band, Douce Ambiance, Wake the Dead and many more. A sought-after teacher at camps, workshops and in her private studio, Bobbi's creative and nurturing style incorporates her depth of knowledge and her experience as a teacher for over 30 years.
Kaila Flexer is a superb violinist in many styles, who is perhaps best known for her playing of music from the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Throughout her career she’s maintained a thriving teaching studio in Oakland and traveled afar to teach workshops and music camps. A founder of respected groups like Third Ear and Next Village, Kaila currently performs with Gari Hegedus in the duo Teslim and with Shira Kammen in the Oakland Folkharmonic.
Suzy Thompson fell in love with Cajun music hearing the Balfa Brothers live in 1976. She apprenticed with the legendary Cajun fiddler Dewey Balfa under an NEA grant. In the 1980s, Suzy played hundreds of dances with the California Cajun Orchestra, featuring the accordion playing of Danny Poullard. Suzy has also recorded and performed Cajun music with Michael Doucet, Marc and Ann Savoy, D.L. Menard, and many other Cajun greats. She has taught Cajun fiddling at Augusta Heritage’s Cajun-Creole Week, Festival of American Fiddle Tunes and Montana Fiddle Camp.
Andrea Hoag is a Grammy nominee for her Swedish fiddling, and is fluent in a broad range of American and European fiddle styles. Students of all ages respond to her playfulness, humor, and passion. Andrea has taught at many fiddle camps including the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, the Swannanoa Gathering, and Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Weeks. She performs widely across the U.S. and in Northern Europe. Andrea is also the founding director of Freyda's Hands, a non-profit organization sponsoring cross-genre collaboration in the performing arts.
Evie Ladin is a banjo player, step-dancer, singer, songwriter and square-dance caller with a lifetime of experience in traditional American cultural arts. The polyrhythmic funk of her clawhammer banjo, resonant voice, and rhythmic dance have been heard from “A Prairie Home Companion” to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. She is also the Executive Director of the International Body Music Festival. A teacher at fiddlekids for over 10 years, Evie skillfully connects the music to dance traditions. She firmly believes that understanding the music and the dance makes any player a better musician.
Robin Fischer is a Berkeley-based musician, dance caller, and in-demand fiddle teacher. She loves calling and teaching dances anywhere live fiddle music happens to be getting newbies out on the dance floor. She is a regular caller in the Bay Area at family dances, weddings, music camps/festivals, parties, and of course big ol' community dances! Robin loves how equalizing traditional square dancing is - no levels, no prerecorded music, just an old fashioned dance party.
Anna Rainer loves encouraging students to try something new. Kids love Anna because she brings fun, unique, engaging and amazing projects to the classroom. She's an art instructor who thinks of herself as a “possibility-maker.” Her motto is “There is an artist within each child.” Currently she teaches art at Oxford Elementary School in Berkeley and at CCA (California College of the Arts). She's been making and teaching art for over 20 years.
Camp founder and history
Bobbi Nikles founded and ran fiddlekids single-handedly for 12 years, later continuing as director for an additional two years after fiddlekids became a program of the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse.
John Blasquez was fiddlekids director from 2012 to 2014, while Bobbi graciously continued to provide input and guidance.
Previous fiddlekids instructors
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