Fiddle Awards

• 1998 Canadian Open Fiddle Champion 
• 1997 Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Champion 
• 1996 Finalist at the Grand Masters Fiddling Championships in Nashville, TN 
• 1996 Runner-up at the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championships 
• 1995, 1996, 1997 Top 3 Finisher at the Canadian Open Fiddle Championships 
• numerous other fiddle and violin awards and scholarships

Special Awards

• 1996 YTV Achievement Award Finalist, Instrumental Category 
• 1995 YTV Achievement Award Finalist, Public Service Category 
• 1994 Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award 
• 1994 City of Pembroke Mayor's Citation 
• 1991 Governor General's Canada Day Youth Award
• numerous step dancing awards

Music Education

• 1998 attended Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) 
• 1997 RCM Grade 5 Analysis of Music 
• 1995 RCM Grade 4 Harmony of Music 
• 1994 RCM Grade 3 History of Music 
• 1993 RCM Grade 3 Harmony of Music 
• 1992 RCM Grade 2 Rudiments of Music 
• 1991 Master Class with the Orford String Quartet 
• 13 years of private old time fiddle lessons (including lessons with: Robbie Dagenais, Louis Schryer, Dan Schryer, Mark O'Connor, Matt Glaser, Darol Anger) 
• 10 years of classical violin lessons (including lessons with: Peter Morris) 
• member of the Deep River Symphony Orchestra for 5 years, Concert Master for 1996-1997 Season 
• 5 years of piano lessons

Television Appearances

• The Tommy Hunter Show 
• The Ronnie Prophet Show 
• The Dini Petty Show 
• Canadian Country Express

Other Musical Accomplishments

• April recorded back-up fiddle tracks for several different artist's albums, as well as for soundtracks
• April toured as guest fiddler with Tommy Hunter and Mad Pudding 
• April is an experienced fiddle and step dance judge (in 1999 she judged the National Old Time Fiddler's Contest in Weiser, Idaho, and in 2000 she judged the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championships) 
• April has been teaching private fiddle and step dance lessons for 10 years, and is highly sought after by fiddle camps for her expertise as well 
• April's musical compositions have been an important part of her career and have been published in several magazines and fiddle books

Other Accomplishments

• April has a great deal of experience in theatre productions (Pembroke Musical Society, Pembroke Little Theatre, Knights of Columbus Dramatic Society), including leading roles in "Annie" and "Me and My Gal" 
• April's volunteer work extends from school (band, newspaper, year book editor, Key Club secretary, Peers Against Drugs, choir, public speaking, Teen Cuisine, library volunteer, math tutor, peer helper for handicapped children, student council treasurer), to hospitals and senior citizens homes all over Canada, telethons (Sick Childrens Hospital in Toronto, CHEO, Variety Club, Heart Institute, Easter Seals, Tiny Hearts, Crippled Children), service clubs (Pembroke Kiwanis Club, Renfrew Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus), fund raising events (Diabetes Foundation, Kidney Foundation, Lung Association, Empty Stocking Fund, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Cancer Society, Victorian Order of Nurses), community and church organizations 
• April gained many academic awards throughout her education, and was Valedictorian

*For information on April's performing history, please visit her "past dates" list, a selected list of April's favourite performance experiences.

Biography | Career Highlights