Darlene Mandeville [prestige@theedge.ca] has issued the following
media release:
>
>
>News Release
>
>
>Yellowknife, NT (August 25, 2010) — Métis fiddler and recording
>artist Lee Mandeville of Yellowknife, will participate in the 21st
>Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship (CGM) in Ottawa, August
>28, 2010, where approximately thirty of the best fiddlers from all
>across Canada are invited to compete for the title of Canadian Grand
>Master. Although he does not compete anymore, Lee sees this as an
>opportunity to be the first fiddler from the North to be invited to
>compete in this prestigious national event.
>
>
>"I am honoured to be invited to compete with these world-class
>fiddlers," said Lee. "This invitation from the CGM presents a rare
>opportunity for me to meet and share my music with world-class
>fiddlers from across the country who I have admired and learned
>from."
>
>
>In the late 1980s, the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship
>was conceived by a group of people interested in preserving Canadian
>Traditional Fiddling, and giving recognition to the excellent
>fiddlers found across Canada. The first competition was held in
>1990. The first president was Len Grace, followed by Bruce
>Cummings. Under their leadership, recognition of this event
>achieved national prominence.
>
>
>The original mandate of the CGM was to promote and preserve Canadian
>Traditional Fiddling, and give national recognition to our top
>Canadian fiddlers. This mandate remains the same today. For
>additional CGM information, see website www.canadiangrandmasters.ca.
>
>
>The 2010 Fiddling Championship judges are Calvin Vollrath, recipient
>of the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from CGM; Mark Sullivan,
>six-time Canadian Fiddle Champion and three-time Canadian Grand
>Master Champion; and, Ray Legere, who scored among the top ten in
>Nashville's Grand Masters Fiddle Championship in 1990 and is a
>two-time winner of the Canadian Grand Master Championship.
>Together, these three world-class musicians will bring a lifetime of
>experience to the event.
>
>
>Lee began his music career as a guitarist at the age of eight and
>won his first competition at the 1985 Métis National Assembly. He
>went on to master the fiddle and was awarded the prestigious Métis
>National Fiddle Championship in Winnipeg at the age of 22 in 1998.
>He has performed his unique fiddle style at numerous national and
>international events including Asia and Europe. Lee is preparing to
>release his fourth fiddle album.
>
>
>
>For more information, contact:
>
>Darlene Mandeville
>
>Prestige Planning Inc.
>
>prestige@theedge.ca
>
>867.873.6121
Items of interest from around the Circumpolar region.
