Mark O’Connor’s Fiddle Camps in Tennessee during the late 90’s pretty much changed the Fiddle world, bringing together legends and young hotshots from all over to share their knowledge and brilliance.
Because of these camps, we now have an explosion of interest, virtuosity, and knowledge that informs every part of fiddling, and those pioneering camps run by Mark, Alasdair Fraser and Jay Ungar have resulted in the present unimaginable richness of Fiddle Culture.
Where else could a youngish jazz-obsessed fiddler from California sit down with his greatest musical heroes and jam for hours?
Thanks to Mark and all his amazing administrator-volunteers such as the Holzen family and Crystal Wiegman.
That’s Vassar on the left , most likely, though the fiddle seems not right. Oh! John’s got Vassar’s iconic fiddle!… which started out as John’s. Ha ha!