Fiddelium. (L-R) Lua Javaheri, Mia Stahuliak, Ava Shaw, Mieka Schneidereit, Norah Figueira, Ben Rainer, Katie McCulloch, Olivia Crowhurst, Alistair Day, Ava Javaheri, Lucy Klan, Leo Javaheri and Jeremy Rainer. (Trish Horrocks)

By Jordan Davidson

another honour

‘Outstanding young humans:’ Nanaimo group earn national folk music honours

Apr 9, 2023 | 8:43 AM

NANAIMO — A local fiddling group has plenty of reasons to smile after taking home the big honour at a recent Canadian music awards show.

Fiddelium is a group of 13 youths between the ages of 12 and 18, and their self-titled album picked up the Young Performers of the Year award at the 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards held in Vancouver last weekend.

Director Trish Horrocks said the kids weren’t fully grasping what a “huge” win this was until she explained to them this was like the Juno Awards but for folk music.

“It’s really comprehensive, there’s a lot of competition, there are a lot of outstanding folk musicians in Canada and it’s astonishingly exciting that we won, it’s just amazing, it’s huge.”

Fiddelium’s award-winning album was recorded during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, giving the enthusiastic musicians a chance to practice when live performances were not allowed.

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Horrocks said lockdowns were tough on the group who were used to rehearsing together at least once a week, along with monthly performances.

“COVID was really hard and we did lose some kids who just kind of felt there wasn’t really any point anymore, so we thought that maybe if we did a recording project it would help to keep the kids inspired and energized and practising.”

(L-R) L-R Norah Figueuera, Ava Shaw, Ben Rainer and Olivia Crowhurst of Fiddelium pose with their award taken backstage at the Canadian Folk Music Awards Ceremony on April 1-2. (Geoff Horrocks )

The album features 12 tracks, one of which was composed collaboratively by the group members.

Horrocks said she and her husband laid down the backing tracks and then had each kid come in solo.

“The kids came in individually and solo tracked against each other. We had to craft it that way, it was a huge undertaking. It took weeks of recording and literally months of mixing. It was a really big project.”

A few members of Fiddelium were able to make it to St. James Hall in Vancouver for the ceremony. Their award was presented right off the bat, giving them plenty of time to take in some performances by artists they admire, like Canadian musician and songwriter Shari Ulrich.

“We’re really proud of them and Nanaimo should be. They’re outstanding young humans.”

This isn’t the first time the group has been honoured with national awards.

In 2019 and 2020, Fiddelium was selected as the winner of a CBC Music Class Challenge Award, beating out over 300 music programs across Canada.

Fiddelium is preparing for its annual year-end show at the Port Theatre on May 18, which has been sold out for the past five years.

More information on Fiddelium can be found here on their Facebook page.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow